Chelsea 1-2 Aston Villa: Joao Pedro's effort, Cole Palmer's controversial performance.
Despite Joao Pedro's promising opening goal, Chelsea still ended up empty-handed at Stamford Bridge against the brilliance of Ollie Watkins and a resurgent Aston Villa.
The match at Stamford Bridge exposed two contrasting faces of Chelsea. Mauricio Pochettino's side dominated in the first half but crumbled in the second against Aston Villa's resilience. The 1-2 defeat not only ended The Blues' winning streak but also marked an impressive 11-match winning run for the visitors.
The highlight: Joao Pedro and the deadlock in the attack.
On a day when Chelsea's attacking system wasn't functioning smoothly, Joao Pedro emerged as a rare bright spot. The striker was not only mobile but also demonstrated his killer instinct with a crucial opening goal in the 37th minute.
However, his support came from disappointing players. Alejandro Garnacho, despite his intelligent positioning, was disappointing with his inaccurate finishing. The Argentinian's wasteful finishing was the turning point that prevented Chelsea from extending their lead when they were in a good position.
The rift stemmed from Cole Palmer's position.
Beyond the professional results, the image of Cole Palmer arguing fiercely with assistant Willy Caballero after being substituted in the 72nd minute left a bad impression. Despite playing a key role as a playmaker with incisive passes, Palmer's attitude showed the frustration weighing heavily on the Chelsea stars.
The defense is shaky and the midfield lacks fighting spirit.
In midfield, record signing Moises Caicedo had an underperforming day, consistently losing in one-on-one duels. This inadvertently put immense pressure on the back four. Benoit Badiashile, despite good ball control, made a fatal mistake leading to a goal conceded, directly handing the victory to the opponent.
On the flanks, Reece James has yet to rediscover his best form after returning to the defensive line. Meanwhile, Marc Cucurella deserves praise for his enthusiasm and tenacious marking, causing considerable difficulties for Villa's attackers.
This defeat forces Chelsea to reassess their ability to maintain focus and control the touch of their star players. If they don't soon improve their attacking efficiency and discipline in their play, a Champions League spot will become increasingly out of reach for the West London club.
