Overview
- Douglas Luiz put Aston Villa ahead inside two minutes with a back‑heel finish.
- An Ollie Watkins goal was disallowed for offside by the league’s semi‑automated system before Chelsea seized control.
- João Pedro equalized on 34 minutes and then lifted a stoppage‑time finish over Emiliano Martínez to give Chelsea the lead.
- Cole Palmer struck early in the second half after Martínez parried a Reece James cross, and Pedro completed his hat‑trick from Alejandro Garnacho’s cross.
- Enzo Fernández and Garnacho supplied assists as starters, Fernández was booked and later substituted, and the win moves Chelsea to 48 points in fifth behind Villa on 51 with nine games left in a match brought forward for FA Cup scheduling.