Just three points separate Chelsea and Bournemouth in the Premier League table, and both teams are eager to build on strong FA Cup victories as they face off in Tuesday's Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, had a dominant 5-0 win over Morecambe on Saturday, while Bournemouth cruised into the fourth round with a 5-1 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion.
In their FA Cup win, Chelsea's second-string squad comfortably dispatched Morecambe, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Felix both scoring braces, and Christopher Nkunku adding a customary cup goal. Despite missing a penalty earlier in the match, the Blues had little trouble securing the victory. However, recent Premier League form has been disappointing for Chelsea, with just two points from their last four matches. Most recently, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace, leaving them 10 points behind leaders Liverpool.
With Newcastle, Manchester City, and Bournemouth all potentially moving ahead of Chelsea with wins in the midweek fixtures, the Blues face the possibility of back-to-back losses at Stamford Bridge for the first time since September 2023.
Bournemouth, under Andoni Iraola, also enjoyed a dominant 5-1 win over West Brom at the weekend. Despite initially going behind to a Caleb Taylor goal, the Cherries responded with goals from Dango Ouattara, Justin Kluivert, Antoine Semenyo, and Daniel Jebbison.
The victory extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, including an impressive 1-0 win over Everton on January 4, thanks to a stunning goal from David Brooks.
Bournemouth’s recent form has been remarkable, with no losses since late November. They are currently in the top seven of the Premier League and have been particularly strong on the road, scoring multiple goals in each of their last five away matches. However, their recent record against Chelsea is poor, having gone winless in six matches against the Blues, including a 1-0 defeat at home in September.
This upcoming clash is crucial for both teams as they look to continue their strong campaigns in the Premier League.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Chelsea will be missing a few familiar faces for their upcoming match, with Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (thigh), Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended), Omari Kellyman (hamstring), and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (unspecified) all sidelined. The latest addition to the injury list is Noni Madueke, who missed the 5-0 win over Morecambe due to illness and is now racing to be fit for Tuesday’s match.
As for team selection, manager Enzo Maresca is expected to make significant changes, with up to 10 players likely to be rotated in. Pedro Neto may be the only player from Saturday’s game who keeps his place. Tosin Adarabioyo could also earn a spot in the starting lineup after his solid performance, but youngster Josh Acheampong, who recently signed a new contract, is favored to return to the first XI after impressing Maresca.
Bournemouth, despite losing Enes Unal (knee) and Evanilson (foot) to long-term injuries earlier this month, put in a dominant performance against West Brom, winning 5-1. The Cherries are looking to sign a new striker this month, though they have recalled Daniel Jebbison from his loan at Watford. Jebbison made a strong case to start with his goal at the weekend, but Dango Ouattara or Antoine Semenyo are expected to lead the attack, with 20-year-old Ben Winterburn likely to drop out.
Bournemouth’s injury list includes Marcos Senesi (thigh), Julian Araujo (thigh), Alex Scott (knee), Marcus Tavernier (thigh), Luis Sinisterra (thigh), and Adam Smith (unspecified). Additionally, Kepa Arrizabalaga is ineligible for the game, and Max Aarons and Philip Billing have both moved on loan to Valencia and Napoli, respectively.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Ouattara; Semenyo
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
The outcome at Stamford Bridge shouldn’t be decided too early, as Bournemouth have scored 10 goals from substitutes in the 2024-25 Premier League season—more than any other team in the top flight.
That said, the Cherries arrive in West London with a depleted squad, both in attack and defence. With Chelsea fielding a fully refreshed first-choice XI, they are well-positioned to end Bournemouth’s impressive unbeaten run and snap their own worrying winless streak.
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