Bournemouth will aim to continue a solid start to the 2024/25 Premier League season when they host Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
Saturday will be action-packed as the 2024/25 Premier League season resumes with Gameweek 4. The latest round of fixtures will kick off with Southampton vs Manchester United at St. Mary’s before Bournemouth and Chelsea round off the day at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth began the 2024/25 Premier League season with successive 1-1 stalemates before clinching an incredulous come-from-behind 3-2 win over Everton ahead of the international break. So, Andoni Iraola continues to make his mark at the Vitality Stadium despite losing Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur. However, the Cherries have lost one game this season, bowing out of the EFL Cup in the second round against West Ham United.
As for Chelsea, they have been busy in the first month of the 2024/25 season. The Blues began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City. However, Enzo Maresca has gradually been stamping his authority on the West London club since then, with his team reaching the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League while going unbeaten for two games in the Premier League, including a 6-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a goalless stalemate, even though Bournemouth and Chelsea managed ten shots on target between themselves. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Bournemouth manager will be bereft of the services of at least two first-team players vs Chelsea on Saturday.
Dango Ouattara is the latest absentee after picking up an ankle injury during international duty with Burkina Faso. The 22-year-old has joined Tyler Adams (lower back) on the sidelines. However, Philip Billing, David Brooks, and Enes Unal are in contention to feature after recovering from their issues. Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga is ineligible to take on his parent club.
So, Mark Travers is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Bournemouth lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea. The backline should feature Julian Araujo, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Alex Scott and Lewis Cook in the double pivot. Justin Kluivert should reprise the no. 10 role, with Luis Sinisterra and the in-form Antoine Semenyo being the two wide attackers. Finally, summer signing Evanilson will spearhead the Bournemouth attack against Chelsea on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Travers; Araujo, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Scott, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Sinisterra; Evanilson
Chelsea
Unlike his counterpart in the Bournemouth dugout, Enzo Maresca does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Vitality Stadium. The Chelsea manager might be without as many as six first-team players on Saturday.
Reece James, who has served his suspension, remains on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, with Omari Kellyman (thigh) the other confirmed absentee. Maresca is sweating over the fitness of Filip Jorgensen (knock), Malo Gusto (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh), and Cole Palmer (groin). Palmer should be available, while the others require a late fitness test to determine the availability.
Robert Sanchez will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth. The backline should feature Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella, with Disasi filling in for Gusto on the right flank.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caiceda in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, and Nicolas Jackson completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Disasi, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Jackson
Key Stats
- Bournemouth are winless in their last five Premier League matches vs Chelsea (D2 L3). The Blues have lost just one of their seven Premier League away games against Bournemouth (W4 D2).
- Bournemouth can go unbeaten in the opening four matches of a Premier League season for the first time. The Cherries have failed to score in only three of their last 33 Premier League games; those were against Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
- A victory on Saturday will mean Chelsea will have won four consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since April 2022.
- Chelsea have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 away games in all competitions, their longest run since the 1993/94 season.
- Four of Bournemouth’s five Premier League goals this season have come after the 86th minute.
Player to Watch
Noni Madueke
Cole Palmer was an option for this section after racking up a division-high four assists in the Premier League thus far this season. Antoine Semenyo was also a candidate after scoring or assisting in all three Premier League matches this season for Bournemouth. However, we have gone ahead with Noni Madueke.
2024/25 was always going to be a make-or-break season for Madueke after struggling for prominence under Mauricio Pochettino. However, the match-winning hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers means that the right-wing berth is his position to lose at Chelsea. With Jadon Sancho arriving on loan from Manchester United, the pressure is on Madueke to deliver the goods. So, he will be eager to continue his fine run of form this weekend.
Prediction
Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea
Saturday’s day-ending match features two teams that have made a positive impact in the early days of the 2024/25 season. While Chelsea might have fallen five points behind Liverpool and Manchester City, they have made their mark, with the big win over Wolverhampton Wanderers showing their potential.
As for Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola continues to stamp his authority on his squad. So, the two teams should engage in a riveting affair at the Vitality Stadium, with the match going down the wire. However, Chelsea should have the quality to eke out a narrow victory, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 2-1 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.