Chelsea vs Aston Villa: Watkins breaks Blues holiday spirit to hand Emery 11th straight win

In a game of two halves, Aston Villa came from behind to earn a 2-1 win against Chelsea in the Premier League.

The hosts dominated the early proceedings, with Cole Palmer and Alejandro Garnacho orchestrating several dangerous attacks.

Chelsea finally capitalised on their pressure in the 37th minute when João Pedro flicked home a Reece James corner to break the deadlock.

The momentum shifted significantly after the restart as Unai Emery introduced a triple substitution. Ollie Watkins proved to be the difference-maker, first levelling the score after a fortunate ricochet off Robert Sánchez.

Despite Chelsea’s attempts to regain control, Watkins struck again in the 84th minute, cushioning a brilliant header inside the post to secure the win.

This victory marks Villa’s 11th consecutive win, keeping them within three points of the league leaders.

Conversely, Chelsea’s first defeat in four matches sees them drop to fifth, with their title hopes fading into the distance.