Chelsea will be desperate to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
The games continue to come thick and fast, with the 2024/25 Premier League season resuming on Tuesday with Gameweek 21. The action on the day will start with three simultaneous games, including Chelsea vs Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea once seemed like the dark horse in the Premier League title race after climbing to the second spot in the standings. However, the Blues have slipped up considerably in recent games, failing to win four successive top-flight matches. The run of results has dropped the West London club to fourth on the table. However, Enzo Maresca’s men have bounced back with a 5-0 win over Morecambe in the FA Cup third round.
As for Bournemouth, the Cherries have been one of the surprise packages of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Nottingham Forest might have stolen the limelight, but Andoni Iraola’s men have been impressive for the most part, losing only five of their 20 top-flight matches. The visitors were also excellent in the FA Cup third round, cruising to a 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.
The reverse fixture saw Chelsea eke a 1-0 win over Bournemouth, with Christopher Nkunku scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca does not have any new roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager might be bereft of the services of five first-team players on Tuesday.
Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (unspecified), and Omari Kellyman (thigh) remain on the sidelines. In addition, Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable after recently failing a doping test. Meanwhile, Noni Madueke faces a race against time to be fit and available after missing the FA Cup game against Morecambe due to illness.
Robert Sanchez will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Bournemouth on Tuesday. The backline should feature Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella, with Acheampong getting the nod over Tosin Adarabioyo.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will spearhead the Chelsea attack against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Bournemouth
Like his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Andoni Iraola does not have any new concerns to worry about ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Bournemouth manager will be without nine first-team players on Tuesday.
Evanilson (foot) and Enes Unal (knee) are the most notable absentees, with Bournemouth not having a recognised striker in the first-team squad. The duo accompanies Marcos Senesi (thigh), Julian Araujo (thigh), Alex Scott (knee), Marcus Tavernier (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (thigh) and Adam Smith (unspecified) on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga will not be eligible to take on Chelsea due to the terms of the loan deal that took him to Bournemouth. Mark Travers will deputise for the Spaniard between the sticks, with the away side lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. The backline should feature James Hill, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, and Milos Kerkez.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook should pair up in the double pivot, with Justin Kluivert in the double pivot. David Brooks and Dango Ouattara will be the two wide attackers, with Antoine Semenyo leading the line for Bournemouth vs Chelsea on Tuesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Travers; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara; Semenyo
Key Stats
- Having lost consecutive Premier League games against Bournemouth in 2019, Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six outings vs them (W4 D2). The Cherries won three of their first five Premier League away games against Chelsea (L2) but have since lost on their two visits to Stamford Bridge.
- After a run of five consecutive Premier League victories, Chelsea are winless in their last four (D2 L2). They last had a longer run without a win in the same season between March and May 2023 (7).
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in their eight most recent Premier League games (W5 D3). Only Liverpool (15) and Arsenal (10) are on longer current runs without defeat, while it is the Cherries’ longest-ever such streak in the competition.
- Bournemouth have netted more goals via substitutes than any other side in the Premier League this season (10). Excluding own goals, 33% of their goals this term have come off the bench (10/30), the highest share for any side in a single Premier League campaign.
- Antoine Semenyo has more shots and chances created combined following a “ball carry” than any other player in the Premier League this term (43 – 27 shots, 16 chances created). However, these have wielded just one goal and one assist for the Ghanaian international thus far.
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
With Chelsea desperate to return to winning ways, Cole Palmer is the automatic Player to Watch. The Englishman has been involved in 19 Premier League goals this season (G13 A6), second only to Mohamed Salah (31). The last Chelsea player to register 20+ G/A in consecutive campaigns was Eden Hazard, who did so in his first three campaigns with the club (2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15).
Palmer has created more chances than any other player in the Premier League this season (57). The 22-year-old is also the only player to have produced 10+ chances for two teammates (15 for Noni Madueke, 11 for Nicolas Jackson). Those numbers suggest the youngster will be the go-to man for Enzo Maresca as he looks to guide Chelsea back to winning ways in the Premier League.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Enzo Maresca will know he needs his players to be at their best to resurrect their faltering challenge in the Premier League. However, the problem will unlikely ease up, considering Bournemouth’s exploits this season, although the Cherries come into this game with depleted resources.
While the away side will show no lack of fight or desire, Antoine Semenyo will be a constant threat. In addition, Chelsea cannot take the visitors lightly, considering their penchant for scoring via substitutes. However, the home side should have the quality to eke a narrow win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Maresca and his charges.