European champions Chelsea have, on Sunday evening, been dealt an altogether concerning blow on the personnel front.
Lukaku on target
Thomas Tuchel’s men are of course locked in action at present.
Amid an altogether concerning dip in form of late, the Blues made the trip to Villa Park, desperate for all three points in their bid to remain within touching distance of rampant Premier League table-toppers Manchester City.
And, to their credit, as things stand, three points is precisely what Chelsea are headed towards.
It was actually hosts Villa who took the lead on the day, when, in altogether bizarre fashion, Matt Targett’s delivery from the left was nodded beyond the clutches of Edouard Mendy by Reece James:
? “Aston Villa get a bit of luck…”
Targett whips a pacey ball into the #CFC box. James is near post, no Villa man around him, but it skims off his head and over Mendy! ?
? Watch live on Sky Sports PL
? #AVLCHE blog ? https://t.co/SdcdnD8pem pic.twitter.com/EZot7nPN3h— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 26, 2021
Chelsea, though, have since turned the clash on its head, courtesy of a first-half Jorginho spot-kick, and, shortly before the hour mark, a fine header on the part of substitute Romelu Lukaku:
Just 10 minutes after coming on, Lukaku has his first Premier League goal since September ?
His movement is brilliant, nipping in front of Mings and glancing a header past Martinez! #AVFC 1-2 #CFC
? Watch live on Sky Sports PL
? #AVLCHE blog ? https://t.co/SdcdnD8pem pic.twitter.com/ItoUfqscUN— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 26, 2021
Silva blow
As alluded to above, though, amid an otherwise positive evening’s work thus far for Chelsea, the Pensioners have also been dealt an altogether untimely blow on the personnel front.
The problem in question was forthcoming early in the 2nd-half of action, when Thiago Silva, amid another fine display, was forced to limp out of proceedings with what appeared to be a muscular injury:
Thiago Silva off injured, Andreas Christensen on. #CFC #AVLCHE
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) December 26, 2021
It now remains to be seen whether the Brazilian faces any sort of extended spell on the sidelines, amid the frantic nature of the Premier League’s festive fixture list.
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