Unai Emery admitted that Aston Villa have lost the element of surprise that powered them to the Champions League places last season, after his side’s troubling winless run was extended to eight matches.

For long periods on Sunday afternoon at Chelsea, the answers seemed further away than ever. The home side, who trailed in Villa’s shadow the past two seasons and who Emery’s men would like to consider rivals in the race for Champions League football, fizzed with energy and belief.

Ross Barkley joined Aston Villa for a minimal fee in the summer following Luton Town's relegation to the Championship