How to Watch Chelsea vs. Aston Villa - FA Cup: Fourth Round ...

LONDON, U.K -- The fourth round of the 2023-24 FA Cup gets underway on Friday, with a couple of English Premier League Clubs going at it, as Chelsea plays host to Aston Villa.

Both clubs posted clean sheets in their first FA Cup contests of the season. Chelsea had their way with EFL Championship side Preston North End almost three weeks ago, waltzing to a 4-0 win at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa, despite a great EPL season, had to scratch and claw their way to a 1-0 win over fellow Championship squad Middlesbrough.

The Lions have had some time to collect themselves after a poor result against lowly Everton in league play, coming to a scoreless draw on Jan. 14. They had won just once in their previous four EPL matches, also drawing with last-place Sheffield United back in December. They are currently tied for second in the league table with Manchester City, two points back of Liverpool.

Chelsea is well down the Premier League standings, as the Blues are having another disappointing campaign. They have shown some signs of life recently, winning four of their last five matches across all competitions. They did lose to Middlesbrough in the first leg of the EFL Cup Semifinals, finishing up the semis this past Tuesday. Chelsea is tied for eighth in the EPL table, nine points out of fourth.

This is the first time Aston Villa has made it this far in the FA Cup in six years, as the Lions look to punch their ticket to the fifth round for the first time since their run to the final in 2015.

Outside of being stunned in the third round last season, Chelsea has typically fared well in FA Cup play, having lost in the championship match in each of the three seasons before.

Chelsea FC vs. Aston Villa FC

When: Friday, January 26

Time: 2:45 p.m. ET

Where: Stamford Bridge (London, U.K.)

Stream: ESPN+

Check out full FA Cup fixtures and results here