Chelsea return to Premier League action after a two-week international break protecting a four-point lead at the top of the table, but with injury problems in defense ahead of tough trip to Aston Villa today.
The defending champions have won all but one league game this season — a 1-0 defeat at second-place Manchester City — but that record will be tested against a side that is usually hard to beat at Villa Park.
Their cause has been made more difficult with John Terry and Alex nursing injuries that will force manager Carlo Ancelloti into playing a makeshift centerback pairing.
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City visit Blackpool tomorrow looking to take advantage of any Chelsea slip-up, while third-place Manchester United are a point further behind ahead of their home match against West Bromwich Albion.
Alex will be out for at least another week with a thigh injury sustained in the win over Arsenal before the international hiatus, while Terry is a major doubt after missing England’s Euro 2012 qualifier on Tuesday with a back problem.
It means central midfielder Michael Essien or fullback Paulo Ferreira could play in the middle alongside Branislav Ivanovic, who usually operates at rightback.
Villa are unbeaten at home this season and promising right-winger Marc Albrighton is confident his team can shock the leaders.
“The lads will relish going out against Chelsea at Villa Park,” Albrighton said. “It will probably be a full house against the top team in the Premier League at the minute. They are absolutely flying. We’ll go out there as the underdogs, but we’ll relish that and hopefully we’ll get a few points off them.”
City moved above neighbors United in the table by edging past Newcastle United 2-1 two weeks ago and will start as favorites against promoted side Blackpool, who upset Liverpool away last time out.
United’s match against West Brom could herald a return for Owen Hargreaves, who has not started a first-team game since September 2008 because of a chronic knee injury.
The England midfielder’s surgeon, Richard Steadman, told the BBC on Wednesday that Hargreaves “should play some part on Saturday.”
Wayne Rooney should also start after playing for England in midweek. The striker has not played for United since being substituted in the 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers on Sept. 26.
At the other end of the table, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres should make his return from injury in tomorrow’s derby match against Everton as the Reds look to end a dramatic week off the pitch by reviving their fortunes on it.
While the Reds’ ownership battle rumbles on, the players must direct their focus on beating the club’s local rivals — who are fourth from bottom — and climbing out of the relegation zone.
The return of Torres will be a major fillip for manager Roy Hodgson, who is already under pressure after third-bottom Liverpool’s poor start to the season.
The oft-injured Spain striker has never regained full fitness since being carried off on a stretcher with a groin strain during the World Cup final against the Netherlands in July.
“Fernando’s season needs to kick-start, he’s been hampered a bit by injuries and what happened at the World Cup,” Hodgson said. “We see a livelier and a better Fernando every day.”
Today, fourth-place Arsenal host Birmingham City, bottom club West Ham United visit second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bolton Wanderers host Stoke City, Fulham are at home to Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic are at New-castle United. On Monday, Blackburn Rovers host Sunderland.
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