Chelsea look for a much-needed return to winning ways in the Premier League on Tuesday as they face high-flying Bournemouth.
The title talk has faded since the quarter-finals in west London with the Blues winless in four league outings. Enzo Maresca’s side have been beaten by Fulham and Ipswich, and have been controlled by Everton and Crystal Palace during their barren run which has seen them drop to fourth in the table.
A 5-0 drubbing of Morecambe in the third round of the FA Cup offered Chelsea some respite at the weekend, with centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and luxury player Joao Felix scoring doubles in the comfortable triumph.
Bournemouth have had an injury-plagued start to the new year, but Andoni Iraola’s side showed no signs of fading at the weekend as they thrashed West Brom 5-1 in the south coast The Cherries have enjoyed an excellent season so far and currently sit seventh in the Premier League table.
A new European place is within reach, and they will see off Tuesday’s hosts with a memorable win at the Bridge.
here it is 90 minutes guide to Chelsea vs Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Chelsea v Bournemouth record head-to-head (last five games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Chelsea |
Bournemouth |
|---|---|
|
Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe – 01/11/25 |
Bournemouth 5-1 West Brom – 11/25/01 |
|
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea – 25/01/04 |
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton – 25/04/01 |
|
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 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
TNT Sports 3, discovery+ app, discovery+ |
|
united states |
royal peacock |
|
canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
There has been plenty of rotation for 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 tie on Saturday and are in contention to play against the Cherries.
Malo Gusto is likely to return at right-back, while Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are bound to partner in the middle of the park.
Noni Madueke missed the Morecambe defeat through illness but he could be welcomed back on Tuesday, with Pedro Neto potentially retaining his right-back.
Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are absent.
Chelsea predicted line-up against Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gust, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Net, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Bournemouth have suffered a pair of devastating injuries at the start of the new year, with Enes Unal tearing his ACL in training after losing Evanilson to a long-term foot injury.
Impressive winger Antoine Semenyo will likely fill the gap up top predictably.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is not fit to play against his parent club on Tuesday, so Mark Travers will make a rare start between the sticks. Iraola is also without Alex Scott, Julian Araujo, Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith, Luis Sinisterra and Marcus Tavernier.
Bournemouth predicted line-up against Chelsea (4-2-3-1): traverse; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara; I sow
Bournemouth were last beaten on November 23 and sheer confidence may have to see them through the next spell without Unal and Evanilson.
Given the injury problems, you have to project a Cherries crash at some point, and a possible slowdown could start in west London. Chelsea have struggled over the past month, but the breathers offered to many of Maresca’s key names at the weekend should serve the hosts well heading into this game.
While Iraola’s side deserve immense credit for the run they have put together over the past few months, it looks like a decent match for Chelsea.
