The Blues were always going to make at least one change following Noni Madueke's injury against Brighton & Hove Albion, and Reece James has come into the side at Villa Park.

That means Filip Jorgensen lines up in goal once more and Maresca has selected five defenders in his XI, with James, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella all named.

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez are included once more, with Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku also occupying attacking positions.

As for Villa, it is four changes from Wednesday's draw with Liverpool, as on-loan Blue Axel Disasi is ineligible and replaced by Ezri Konsa.

Former Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen is in for Lucas Digne, Marcus Rashford drops to the bench as Jacob Ramsey comes into the team, and Matty Cash makes his first start since returning from an injury, with Andrés García among Villa's substitutes.

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, James (c), Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Neto, Nkunku

Substitutes: Sanchez, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith, Tosin, Amougou, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho, Mheuka

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, McGinn, Tielemans, Asensio, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins

Substitutes: Olsen, Zych, Digne, Garcia, Bogarde, Bailey, Malen, Rashford, Jimoh-Aloba