Chelsea are chasing a much-needed return to winning ways in the Premier League on Tuesday when they take on high-flying Bournemouth.
The title talk has faded in the west London quarters with the Blues without a win in four league games. Enzo Maresca’s side have been beaten by Fulham and Ipswich and held by Everton and Crystal Palace during a barren run that has seen them finish fourth in the table.
5-0 win by Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup offered Chelsea some respite at the weekend, with centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and luxury playmaker Joao Felix scoring in a comfortable triumph.
Bournemouth have had an injury-plagued start to the new year, but Andoni Iraola’s side showed no signs of faltering at the weekend as they beat West Brom 5-1 on the south coast. The Cherries have enjoyed an excellent season up to this point and are currently seventh in the Premier League table.
Top spot in Europe is within reach and they will leapfrog the hosts on Tuesday with a memorable win at the Bridge.
Here 90 minutes a guide to Chelsea against Bournemouth in Premier League.
Chelsea – Bournemouth head-to-head record (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Chelsea |
Bournemouth |
|---|---|
|
Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe – 01.11.25 |
Bournemouth 5-1 West Brom – 01.11.25 |
|
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea – 01.04.25 |
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton – 01.04.25 |
|
Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea – 30.12.24 |
Fulham 2-2 Bournemouth – 29.12.24 |
|
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 26.12.24 |
Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace – 26.12.24 |
|
Everton 0-0 Chelsea – 22.12.24 |
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth – 22.12.24 |
|
Earth |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
TNT Sports 3, Discovery+, Discovery+ app |
|
United States |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
There was plenty of rotation from Maresca, who were able to welcome Reece James and Romeo Lavia back into the fold after spells on the sidelines, at the weekend. Both players started the cup game on Saturday and are in contention to feature against the Cherries.
Malo Gusto is likely to return to the right-back spot, while Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are sure to partner in the middle of the park.
Noni Madueke missed the Morecambe game due to illness but could see a return on Tuesday, with Pedro Neto potentially able to keep his right flank.
Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are absent.
Predicted line-up Chelsea vs Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Bournemouth have suffered a couple of devastating injuries at the start of the new year, with Enes Unal tearing his ACL in training after they lost Evanilson to a long-term foot injury.
Impressive winger Antoine Semenyo is likely to fill the void at the top in due course.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is ineligible to play against his parent club on Tuesday, so Mark Travers will make a rare start between the sticks. Iraola are also without Alex Scott, Julian Araujo, Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier.
Predicted line-up of Bournemouth against Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Travers; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara; Semenyo.
Bournemouth were last beaten on November 23rd and confidence alone may have to see them through the coming period without Unala and Evanilson.
Given their injury problems, you have to predict the Cherries’ drop at some point, and a possible drop could start in west London. Chelsea have been out of sorts for the past month, but the breather offered to many of Maresca’s key names this weekend should serve the hosts well ahead of this game.
While Iraola’s side deserve huge credit for the run they have put together over the past few months, this feels like the right game for Chelsea.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth
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