Chelsea host Aston Villa in a compelling Premier League encounter. Examining the recent form and key factors suggests a potentially close match, but with Chelsea holding a slight edge. Chelsea's recent form shows a mixed bag. Their last five matches across all competitions highlight both defensive solidity and attacking inconsistencies. While they've managed a couple of clean sheets, they also conceded twice against Newcastle. Their home form, as reflected in the odds, is likely a contributing factor to the prediction. Crucially, the absence of several key players due to injuries could affect the team's balance, potentially leading to a less dominant display than would otherwise be expected. Aston Villa, on the other hand, have demonstrated a slightly more consistent attacking edge, managing to score in most of their recent matches. However, their defensive record has been less impressive, and the recent loss to Manchester United indicates vulnerabilities, especially away from home. Their ability to find the net consistently poses a challenge for Chelsea's defense, especially given the injury concerns within the Blues' ranks. The injury situations for both teams also significantly impact the prediction. Chelsea has a longer list of injured players, which likely affects the team's depth and tactical flexibility. Aston Villa, with fewer injuries, may have a slight advantage in terms of squad availability and potentially fresher legs. Considering the match odds, Chelsea is the favorite. The Asian Handicap favors Chelsea at -0.5, implying a prediction for a Chelsea win. The Over/Under line is set at 2.75 goals, suggesting a high probability of a game with several goals. Taking everything into account, the prediction is a narrow Chelsea win with over 2.75 goals.