Bournemouth hosts Chelsea on Saturday afternoon as both sides try to shake off midweek defeats. The Cherries lost 1-0 at home to Everton, while Chelsea were stunned 3-1 by Leeds United, a result no one saw coming. Bournemouth have been struggling. November was tough 4 games without a win (D1 L3) and 12 goals conceded. Last weekend, they blew a 2-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Sunderland, then fell 1-0 at home to Everton on Tuesday. Manager Andoni Iraola admits low energy, especially in midfield, has been a problem. Bournemouth sit 14th, 5 points behind Chelsea, and will hope to avoid back-to-back home defeats for the first time since April.
Chelsea, meanwhile, had one of their worst nights of the season at Leeds. They dominated possession but created only 3 clear chances and were sloppy at the back. Moises Caicedo misses out due to suspension, but the Blues still boast the joint-second best away record in the league and are unbeaten in 4 trips to Bournemouth (W2 D2), including a 1-0 win in September 2024. Injury news and returns could shake things up. Ryan Christie and Ben Gannon Doak remain out. Suspensions rule out Lewis Cook and Tyler Adams, but Marcos Senesi and David Brooks return. Chelsea are without Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and Mykhaylo Mudryk. Cole Palmer could start in his favoured No.10 role after coming off the bench midweek.Bournemouth vs Chelsea: Key Stats
📊 Head to head: Bournemouth 4 wins, Chelsea 12 wins, Draw 3
📊 Bournemouth: Winless in 6 of last 7 league games
📊 Bournemouth: Concede 1.73 goals per match across all competitions
📊 Chelsea: Undefeated in 8 of last 9 away games vs Bournemouth
📊 Chelsea: Drawn at half-time in last 4 away games vs Bournemouth
Predicted Lineups
Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Tavernier; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Chelsea (4-3-3) Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Players and Matchups to Watch
🔹 Reece James – Chelsea’s powerhouse on the wing and back
🔹 Cole Palmer – Could unlock Bournemouth if he starts in No.10
🔹 David Brooks – Returning to spark creativity for the Cherries
Odds Market on MSport
💵 Draw: 3.80
💵 Chelsea to win: 2.25
💵 Over 2.5 Goals: 1.66
Bournemouth can make life tricky at home but Chelsea’s quality and strong away form give them the edge. Expect pace, goals, and a few late twists at the Vitality.
