CHELSEA reignited their title challenge by beating Bolton in midweek and should pick up another three points against Aston Villa today.
Such has been the demise of Villa under Gerard Houllier that the Blues are a biggest 2-7 with Coral while the visitors are a massive 14-1 at Chandler.
Villa were absolutely hopeless as they crashed 4-0 to Man City in midweek and Ladbrokes' 11-10 for Chelsea to win to nil makes a lot of sense.
Didier Drogba looked lively in patches against Arsenal and Paddy Power's 7-2 on him to break the deadlock is worth considering.
Villa lost 7-1 at the Bridge last season and Houllier must fear the worst but he has received a boost with Emile Heskey and Ashley Young recovering from injuries but right-back Luke Young is still out.
Carlo Ancelotti will give a Premier League debut to 19-year-old defender Jeffrey Bruma in place of the suspended Branislav Ivanovic.
The Holland international has started in both the Carling Cup and Champions League this season and Ancelotti rates him highly.
Chelsea will again be without holding midfielder John Obi Mikel.
The other Premier League game features Wigan at home to Newcastle and this could end all square.
Wigan showed plenty of fight in their draw against Arsenal and are best 13-8 with William Hill to win. Newcastle have lost three on the bounce away from home and that's a worry but they still possess a big threat in the shape of England striker Andy Carroll who is 7-5 at bodog to score at any time and 11-2 at Coral to bag the opener.
Newcastle are 15-8 with bet365 but have the quality to come away with a point which pays 9-4 at Stan James while a 1-1 draw is 6-1 with 888sport.
I have also posted my football tips for the 2nd of January in Scotland.
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
