Chelsea will hope to round off 2025 with a win when they welcome Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Chelsea and Bournemouth bring contrasting emotions into Tuesday night’s encounter at Stamford Bridge, with both sides eager to end the calendar year on a positive note after recent frustrations. While the Blues are attempting to halt a worrying dip in form, the Cherries arrive in West London desperate to stop a slide that has seen early-season promise fade rapidly.
Chelsea’s recent performances have raised concern after what had looked like a promising run earlier in the campaign. Their latest setback came at home against Aston Villa, where they surrendered a half-time lead to fall 2-1, despite taking the initiative through Joao Pedro. Ollie Watkins’s devastating second-half cameo turned the game on its head and left Stamford Bridge subdued.
That defeat extended a worrying trend for Enzo Maresca’s side, who have now managed just one victory in their last five Premier League outings. A goalless draw with Bournemouth earlier this month already hinted at attacking inefficiency, and the loss to Aston Villa saw Chelsea slip to fifth in the table, level on points with Manchester United but behind on goal difference.
While Maresca watched from the stands due to a touchline ban, his absence did little to alter the structural issues that have crept into Chelsea’s game. Defensive lapses and missed opportunities have become recurring themes, particularly in matches they are expected to control.
Still, Stamford Bridge has traditionally been a reliable venue to close out the calendar year. Chelsea have lost only once in their final home league fixture of the year across the last two decades, a record that should offer encouragement as they look to restore momentum.
Bournemouth arrive in London in far less convincing form. After an impressive start to the campaign that saw them climb as high as second place in October, the Cherries have since endured a steep decline. They have collected just four points from their last nine league matches, a run that has pulled them back into the lower half of the table.
Their most recent outing, a heavy 4-1 defeat at Brentford, underlined ongoing defensive vulnerabilities. Antoine Semenyo’s late strike offered little consolation in a match where Bournemouth were repeatedly exposed, particularly in transition.
Away from home, Andoni Iraola’s side have struggled badly. They currently hold the league’s worst defensive record on the road, conceding 27 goals in nine away fixtures. Such fragility will be severely tested against a Chelsea attack that, while inconsistent, remains capable of overwhelming opponents when confidence returns. Bournemouth also face a historical hurdle.
The Cherries have not beaten Chelsea since a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in December 2019, and they have collected just one victory in their last seven end-of-year league fixtures. Chelsea are likely to dominate possession and territory, pressing high and looking to stretch Bournemouth through wide areas.
The visitors, meanwhile, will aim to stay compact and strike on the counter, though recent defensive performances suggest that approach may be difficult to sustain over 90 minutes. With both teams under pressure to close the year positively, the match may begin cautiously before opening up as spaces appear. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Chelsea continue to contend with several fitness concerns as they prepare for their latest league assignment. Levi Colwill remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury, while midfielders Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia are also unavailable due to ongoing thigh problems.
There is additional concern at left-back after Marc Cucurella was forced off during the second half of the weekend defeat to Aston Villa with a suspected hamstring issue. His availability remains uncertain, and a late decision is expected to be made by the medical staff. Should Cucurella be ruled out, Malo Gusto is the most likely replacement, having already filled in during the previous match.
Jorrel Hato is also a doubt after missing the matchday squad at the weekend, further limiting Enzo Maresca’s defensive options. At centre-back, Wesley Fofana is pushing for a return to the starting XI after regaining fitness, potentially replacing Benoit Badiashile alongside Trevoh Chalobah. The coaching staff are expected to assess fitness levels carefully before finalising the defensive pairing.
Chelsea are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, a shape that allows for control in midfield while supporting their wide attacking players. Robert Sanchez is likely to continue in goal, offering distribution from the back and command of the penalty area. The defensive line should feature Reece James at right-back, with Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah forming the central partnership. On the left flank, Malo Gusto is expected to deputise if Cucurella fails to recover in time.
As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are expected to operate as the double pivot, balancing ball progression with defensive coverage and helping Chelsea maintain control through central areas.
Ahead of them, Pedro Neto is likely to start on the right wing, with Cole Palmer operating centrally as the chief creative force. Alejandro Garnacho is expected to provide pace and directness from the left flank, stretching Bournemouth’s defensive shape. Leading the line, Joao Pedro is set to spearhead the attack as Chelsea look to convert possession into clear-cut chances.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
Bournemouth
Bournemouth head into this fixture with several key absences that continue to test Andoni Iraola’s squad depth. Tyler Adams is set to remain sidelined for the next two to three months after suffering a medial collateral ligament injury during the dramatic 4-4 draw with Manchester United earlier this month. His absence removes an important source of energy and defensive stability from the midfield.
The Cherries are also without attacking option Ben Doak, who remains unavailable through a hamstring injury, while defensive reinforcements Veljko Milosavljevic and Matai Akinmboni are also ruled out. These absences have forced Iraola to reshuffle his back line and midfield combinations in recent weeks.
There is, however, cautious optimism surrounding Alex Scott, who was withdrawn late in the defeat to Brentford as a precaution. The midfielder is expected to be assessed ahead of kick-off and could feature if deemed fit. Encouragingly for Bournemouth, David Brooks, Justin Kluivert, and Evanilson all made appearances from the bench in that match and are pushing for starting roles as the visitors look to inject greater attacking intent.
Bournemouth are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 system, prioritising compactness in midfield while allowing freedom for their attacking players to operate between the lines. Former Chelsea shot-stopper Djorde Petrovic is likely to start in goal for Bournemouth, offering shot-stopping reliability and comfort in possession.
The back four is expected to include Alex Jimenez at right-back, Bafode Diakite partnering Marcos Senesi at the heart of the defence, and Adrien Truffert operating from left-back, tasked with providing width and recovery pace.
In midfield, Alex Scott is expected to feature alongside Lewis Cook, forming a balanced double pivot that combines ball progression with defensive awareness. Ahead of them, David Brooks is likely to operate on the right wing, Justin Kluivert through the central attacking role, and Antoine Semenyo from the left, giving Bournemouth pace and directness across the frontline.
Leading the line, Evanilson is expected to start as the central striker, offering physical presence, pressing intensity, and movement inside the box. This setup allows Bournemouth to remain compact without the ball while offering multiple attacking outlets in transition, particularly through the pace and directness of their wide players.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Key Stats
- Chelsea have lost just once in their last 15 home league meetings with Bournemouth, winning 10 of those encounters and drawing four.
- Bournemouth have conceded 27 goals in nine away league matches this season, the worst defensive record on the road in the Premier League.
- Chelsea have scored in each of their last 12 home Premier League games.
- Bournemouth have picked up just one win in their last nine league matches, with that victory coming against Nottingham Forest in late October.
- Chelsea have won 13 of their last 22 league matches played in December, losing just once during that period.
Player to Watch
Antoine Semenyo
Semenyo remains one of Bournemouth’s most dangerous attacking outlets, particularly in transition. The Ghanaian international forward combines pace, physicality, and direct running, making him a constant threat whenever space opens up behind the opposition defence. Even during a difficult spell for the Cherries, Semenyo has continued to offer energy and intent, often driving the team forward when momentum is lacking.
Operating primarily from the left side of the attack, Semenyo excels at isolating defenders in 1v1 situations. His ability to carry the ball at speed and cut inside onto his stronger foot makes him especially dangerous against full-backs who push high, something Chelsea have often done this season. He is also effective when drifting centrally, where his power and willingness to shoot early can trouble defensive lines that fail to reset quickly.
Beyond his attacking threat, Semenyo’s work rate without the ball is equally valuable. He presses aggressively, tracks runners, and helps Bournemouth remain compact when defending deeper. Against a Chelsea side that likes to dominate possession, his ability to turn defensive moments into counter-attacking opportunities could prove crucial.
If Bournemouth are to silence Stamford Bridge, Semenyo’s pace, physical presence, and willingness to take responsibility in key moments will likely be central to that effort.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Chelsea should enter this contest with confidence, particularly given their strong home form and Bournemouth’s ongoing struggles away from the Vitality Stadium. While the Cherries possess enough pace and energy to cause moments of discomfort, especially through Antoine Semenyo on the counter, their defensive fragility and injury concerns make sustaining pressure over 90 minutes a difficult task.
With Chelsea eager to respond after recent setbacks and armed with greater attacking depth, they are well placed to control large phases of the game. If they can convert early dominance into goals, the match could open up quickly in their favour.
