Thomas Tuchel has made just one change to his Chelsea side that beat Leicester City as they take on Aston Villa in what could prove to be an enthralling final day in the Premier League.
It doesn’t appear that the Chelsea head coach has one eye on the Champions League final against Man City in six days time as he has gone strong in Birmingham to wrap up a top-four finish.
The Blues will secure top four if they beat Villa this afternoon or match the results of either Liverpool or Leicester to secure Champions League football for next season and complete a remarkable turnaround under Tuchel since he took the job in late January.
Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Foxes at Stamford Bridge put Chelsea in pole position to get that coveted top four finish as they moved up to third in the standings, a point ahead of both Leicester and Liverpool heading into the final round of matches.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are home to Crystal Palace on the final day, while Leicester host Spurs at the King Power Stadium.
Edouard Mendy starts in goal as expected and, as usual, there is a back five in front of him. Cesar Azpilicueta captains the side and starts alongside Reece James, Antonio Rudiger, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell.
Thiago Silva is rested in Birmingham, likely being saved for the trip to Porto for the Champions League final next week.
N’Golo Kante, who was substituted off against the Foxes, is not risked from the start at Villa Park and that means a first start since April 10 for Mateo Kovacic, who returned from a hamstring injury in the midweek victory over Leicester.
Christian Pulisic starts in the front three alongside perennial starter and Blues player of the year Mason Mount. Kai Havertz, who missed out against Leicester through injury, is back in the squad but only makes the bench. Timo Werner starts alongside Pulisic and Mount.
Chelsea: Mendy; James, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Chilwell; Jorginho, Kovacic; Mount, Werner, Pulisic.
