Didier Drogba starts on the bench so Nicolas Anelka will play centre-forward.

Joe Cole comes in for Daniel Sturridge on the right wing and Alex replaces injured Ricardo Carvalho in the one other change from the Portsmouth starting line-up.
Michael Ballack is fit again but only makes the bench.

John Terry overtakes Ron Harris with his 325th game as Chelsea captain - an all-time record.

Aston Villa's injury problems are not as great as Martin O'Neill was suggesting with Richard Dunne, James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor all fit to start.

Steve Sidwell will play against his former side. Agbonlahor plays on the right wing with Stewart Downing making way.

Chelsea are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

1 Petr Cech
19 Paulo Ferreira
33 Alex
26 John Terry (c)
18 Yury Zhirkov
12 John Mikel Obi
8 Frank Lampard
10 Joe Cole
20 Deco
15 Florent Malouda
39 Nicolas Anelka

Substitutes: 22 Ross Turnbull, 43 Jeffrey Bruma, 52 Patrick van Aanholt, 13 Michael Ballack, 21 Salomon Kalou, 23 Daniel Sturridge, 11 Didier Drogba.

Aston Villa are expected to line up in the following 4-2-3-1 formation:

Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Sidwell, Petrov (c); Agbonlahor, Milner, A Young; Carew.

Substitutes: Guzan, Cuellar, Davies, Salifou, Beye, Downing, Delfouneso.

The referee is Peter Walton.

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