Chelsea travel to Villa Park on Wednesday seeking a first league win in four matches, according to the Evening Standard. Manager Liam Rosenior confirmed that Cole Palmer is fit to start after the attacker sustained a minor knock during Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. The 23-year-old has endured an injury-interrupted campaign, restricted to 15 Premier League starts due to toe and groin issues, per The Football Faithful.
Palmer currently has eight goals and one assist in 16 league appearances this season, following a seventh-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings. He remains under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2033 after signing a two-year extension in August 2024. Chelsea occupy sixth place in the Premier League table with 45 points, six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa. Rosenior's side will be without the suspended Pedro Neto for the fixture, while defenders Marc Cucurella and Estevao Willian remain doubts with hamstring injuries.
