Lampard in first Premier League start since October

Frank Lampard starts a Barclays Premier League match for the first time since early October as Chelsea looked for a win over Aston Villa which would take them up to third in the table.

Victor Moses was once again selected ahead of Oscar for the clash at Stamford Bridge, while the returning Ramires had to be content with a place on the bench.

Unsurprisingly Aston Villa were unchanged from the side which beat Liverpool 3-1, although Stephen Ireland was fit to be named among the substitutes after missing their last match through illness.

Ron Vlaar and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor failed to recover from calf and thigh problems respectively.

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Luiz, Lampard, Moses, Mata, Hazard, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Ramires, Oscar, Ferreira, Marin, Piazon, Ake.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Herd, Clark, Baker, Lowton, Bannan, Westwood, Lichaj, Weimann, Holman, Benteke. Subs: Given, Ireland, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Delph, Bowery, Bennett.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)