Chelsea had a bright Starr and took the lead away at Villa Park, only to lose the game 2-1.

But what really happened to Enzo Maresca’s side?

Enzo Fernandez had a mixed performance in Chelsea’s clash against Aston Villa, scoring the opener but also playing a key role in the hosts’ equaliser.

Marco Asensio found the net for Villa, but the goal was initially disallowed as the assistant referee flagged Marcus Rashford offside in the buildup. 

However, a VAR review overturned the decision, revealing that Fernandez had been slow to step out of the penalty area, inadvertently keeping Rashford onside.

It was an unfortunate moment for the Argentine, whose awareness in that instance proved costly for Chelsea. Despite his attacking contribution, the defensive lapse allowed Villa to get back into the game, highlighting the fine margins that can determine results at the highest level.

Both sides pushed for the win afterwards, but Villa had the momentum in front of their home crowd.

As Villa pushed forward late on, they secured the decisive goal in the 89th minute. Rashford’s quick combination with Youri Tielemans led to a driven pass into Asensio, who squeezed his shot under Jörgensen to complete the comeback. It was a goalkeeping disaster, as the shot was very tame, and left the Chelsea goalie red faced, as he knew instantly that he should have done better.

The defeat leaves Chelsea winless in six consecutive away league matches, sitting sixth in the table, while Villa’s victory brings them within a point of the Blues as they aim for European qualification.