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I just don't understand how Chelsea can go from pushing Manchester City close in three games this season to the inept level of performance we saw from them against Arsenal on Tuesday.

I think they should stick with their manager Mauricio Pochettino regardless of what happens in their remaining games, but another walloping here will obviously damage his cause.

Chelsea won at Villa Park in the FA Cup in February, and I am actually expecting a response from them - but Aston Villa will still be too good for them.

Tottenham can move level with Unai Emery's side in fourth place if they win their games in hand but I'd much rather be in Villa's position. They have all the momentum at the moment, and look full of confidence too.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank to BBC Sport: "It's always irritating or frustrating to lose a match. That's the most difficult thing in this business.

"It was a very even match between two teams who neutralised each other. There wasn't much in it. We had the biggest chance through Ivan.

"It's very irritating they scored from a second phase. Even game, should have been 0-0 in my opinion. A little bit boring.

"Right now I'm just irritated we lost a match. It's been a tough season. It's always been our aim to finish as high as possible and be an asset to the Premier League. It's important we finish well and keep the momentum into last season.

"As a team we played average. Not many players stood out. Our front three weren't at thier best. It was a starting point for Ivan and he'll be better next time."

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Here come the players with some very over the top pyrotechnics welcoming them to the field.

It's always loud at Villa Park and with so much on the line it's no different tonight.

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Aston Villa last finished fourth in the Premier League in 1995-96 when manager Brian Little also led them to glory in the League Cup.

Unai Emery is looking to emulate Little's achievement by securing Villa's highest league position in 28 years and adding a piece of silverware - the Europa Conference League - to their cabinet.

Villa face Greek club Olympiakos in the semi-finals of the Conference League with the first leg of that tie set to take place at Villa Park on Thursday.

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Conor Gallagher is starting his 50th Premier League game for Chelsea.

The academy graduate made his senior debut as a substitute on 6 August 2022 against Everton.

Gallagher made his first Premier League start for the Blues on 21 August 2022 against Leeds at Elland Road.

Brentford

Brentford boss Thomas Frank to Sky Sports: "Very tight game. Not many chances. Probably a 0-0 game. A little bit boring. We know how difficult Everton are to play against. We had the biggest chance of the game with Ivan."

On avoiding relegation being their goal at the start of the season: "No no no no no. Never never never never. We never talk about a target of staying in the Premier League. We always want to finish as high as possible.

"I don’t like losing. It was an average game. It’s a little irritating to me."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to PLP: "At the moment it is not enough as we have another challenge in front, we are in Europe but we want to fight.

"We face Tottenham who are trying to get Champions League now and that is the demand now.

"We are in the semi-final and we have to enjoy this of course, but today is a great match for the supporters and it is a great opportunity.

"It will be very difficult but we need all the supporters. We need to get our best performance playing 90 minutes."

Everton

Everton boss Sean Dyche to BBC Sport: “Incredibly pleased and proud. They’re a group of players who have had knocks all season. Four out of five clean sheets and wins with all the mounting noise after the Chelsea game is incredible. The mentality of the players is fantastic. Super pleased. Very proud.

“It’s been an exhausting week for many reasons, highs from the big win on Wednesday. The emotion that goes into that, I wondered how the players would respond.

“With xG we’ve been questioned for how many times we haven’t won games. It’s paid us back.

“They’ve had a massive week. There’s a lot of pressure and intensity on the week and can you do it again? Second half we controlled the game pretty well.”

On the fact they are safe now but effectively were already: "Yeah of course, that old chestnut. 'You were safe and all that'. You were all desperate for Luton to win and us to lose. This isn't my first rodeo."

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Ollie Watkins has been on fire for Aston Villa this season.

He needs one top-flight goal to become the first Aston Villa player to reach 20 in a season since Peter Withe in 1980-81.

Watkins has scored in his last two Premier League games against Chelsea, though both have come at Stamford Bridge.

No Aston Villa player has ever scored in three in a row against the Blues in the competition.

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I have watched Nicolas Jackson this season and he's missed opportunity after opportunity.

Then, he has scored a few goals and has been a threat.

Against Manchester City, when the ball was spun in behind I thought 'now I've seen what he is about'. That was when I realised he wants space to spin into and find good areas.

I thought he was a threat all game.

He is going to get better. I just also think a team that is not always doing too well does not help a player trying to be the focal point at the top of the pitch.

There is a lot of room for improvement but we have seen some signs of the talent that is expected.

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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino says it is "a problem" if he has to motivate the players for the remainder of the season.

The Blues' lost their last chance for silverware this season in their late defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup on Saturday and could not bounce back in their midweek Premier League match against Arsenal, where they were thumped 5-0 at the Emirates.

They still have the opportunity to qualify for European competition, however, sitting six points off Newcastle United in seventh and seven points off Manchester United in sixth.

The west London club have two games in hand on both Newcastle and Manchester United.

"We think that we are responsible to motivate players, why? It's difficult to accept. If you play for Chelsea that motivation is there, even if you play in a friendly," Pochettino said.

"If you don't have motivation it is difficult. If you ask me that we need to motivate players for the next game, then we have a problem.

"I don't believe that is the problem - the problem is to have the capacity to perform. We can't give them the excuses not to perform, but at the same time we are people, we are not a machine and with some circumstances you lose the reference of those things a little bit."

Brentford

Everton defender Nathan Collins to Sky Sports: "It was a fairly even game I think. There weren't a lot of chances for either side. It was always going to be a tough game."

On Pickford's save from Toney: "It was a great save, you need to take chances like that if you want to come to places like this and get a result.

"It's been a tough season with a lot of setbacks but it's great to be staying up."

Everton

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford: "Perfect. A big bounceback from Chelsea.

"Three games to go and enjoy it.

"A lot of pressure the last two years and the deductions this year, the lads dug in massively.

"A perfect week. Three wins, three clean sheets.

"I criticise myself but I made some crucial saves tonight. The Toney one [stands out]."

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says he is "very grateful" to the club's owners who continue to support him and his vision.

Emery recently extended his contract until 2027 and told the media he "is very happy" and "motivated" to continue his progress at the club.

Villa were 16th in the Premier League and fighting relegation when the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in November 2022.

"My objective is always to develop myself as a coach and the people around me," said Emery.

"We do not have the availability to spend a lot of money, but we have tried to be intelligent and we have always been positive.

"I am very grateful because the club are supporting me a lot.

"We are realistic with the work we have to do. It was about increasing the confidence levels of the players and they have done that. They feel comfortable now with the new demands that we are trying to push on to them."

Everton

Everton defender James Tarkowski to Sky Sports: "[The 6-0 defeat by Chelsea] was the toughest moment of the season.

"It's been amazing. It's been some week. Three wins. Today is the toughest game of the three. The lads turned up again. Incredible.

"The work Idrissa Gueye gets through is incredible."

Michael Brown
Former Fulham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It is not always the prettiest, it is not the most creative, but it is effective and gets results.

Everton were in a good position at the start of the season before the points deduction, it was a big blow and they had to recover and they have done so.

A really good day for Sean Dyche and his team. Not the greatest of games, just the one shot on target, but they got the job done.

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Cole Palmer is back in the Chelsea starting lineup for tonight's trip to Villa Park.

The England midfielder missed Tuesday's 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal due to illness.

Palmer, 21, has been Chelsea's top performer in a below-par season, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League and he will move clear of Manchester City's Erling Haaland to top the scoring charts if he registers tonight.

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen have done it AGAIN!

A second consecutive 97th-minute equaliser sees them continue their unbeaten season - 46 games now. Unbelievable.

It finished 2-2 in their game with Stuttgart. They were 2-0 down after an hour.

Three more league games, any remaining Europa League matches and a German Cup final to go.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

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Aston Villa can pull nine points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham in the race for a Champions League berth if they pick up a win tonight but Spurs, who host Arsenal on Sunday, will have three games in hand by the close of the play.

Chelsea still have their sights set on Europe too.

It has been a disappointing season by Chelsea's usual high standards but they are just six points behind seventh-placed Newcastle with two games in hand.

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