The non-stop Premier League season rolls on with an action packed midweek fixtures.
It’s a challenging time of season for managers as squad depth gets tested by injuries, suspensions and fatigue.
The highlight of this Matchweek will be the crunch tie between Everton and Manchester City as they will both be looking to build on Boxing Day victories in the Premier League when the two high-flyers lock horns at Goodison Park on Monday evening.
Manchester United will be determined to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome Wolves to Old Trafford for Tuesday evening’s showdown.
Premier League Standings after the conclusion of week 15
will be aiming to bounce back from their dampening derby defeat to Arsenal when they welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Monday.
In contrast, Villa head to Stamford Bridge following a resounding 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, with Dean Smith’s side playing the second 45 with 10 men on Boxing Day.
Aston Villa headed into their game with Crystal Palace having eased past Sam Allardyce’s West Bromwich Albion before the festive fixtures, with Dean Smith’s side hoping to stretch their unbeaten run to four matches on Boxing Day.
Chelsea go into the visit of Villa hoping to record their seventh consecutive win over the West Midlands outfit - with manager Lampard the top scorer in this fixture with 14 goals to his name - and Villa’s most recent win at Stamford Bridge came on New Year’s Eve in 2011.
Chelsea Premier League form: DWLLWL Chelsea form (all competitions): WDLLWL
Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and two members of City’s staff tested positive for the virus last week and missed the Boxing Day win over Newcastle United.
City have now closed their training ground, the City Football Academy, for an “indeterminate period, with the squad and associated bubble undergoing testing before any decision is made for training to resume", a club statement read.
Timo Werner has been dropped against Aston Villa after a run of 7 PL games without a goal.
Kai Havertz starts on the bench after no goal or assist in his last 10 league outings
Havertz in the Premier League this season:
Games: 13
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Olivier Giroud has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Chelsea in 2020 - that’s his best goal haul in a calendar year since 2015 with Arsenal (28 goals)
John McGinn: “I think during this tough year us as footballers have been very, very fortunate to do what we love, to go to work. There’s a lot of people that aren’t able to go about their daily routine… if it means playing a game every day we’ll be happy to do it.”
West Brom
Liverpool
Kai Havertz starts on the bench after no goal or assist in his last 10 league outings 
Thierry Henry (175)
