On Tuesday evening, Chelsea will aim to end their streak of three consecutive losses in the Premier League when they play Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Prior to the FIFA World Cup break, Chelsea was ranked 8th in the table, while Bournemouth has risen to 14th place, but is still at risk of being drawn into the battle to avoid relegation. Here is the Chelsea vs Bournemouth Kick-off Time, Preview, Prediction & Lineups.
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Chelsea vs Bournemouth Kick-off
Match: Chelsea vs Bournemouth Premier League
Date: Dec 27, 2022
Time: 5:30 PM UK
Venue: Stamford Bridge
TV Channel: Amazon Prime Video (UK), USA Network (US)
Live Streaming: fuboTV
Chelsea vs Bournemouth Preview
Chelsea has had a difficult run of games recently, losing four of their last five fixtures before the World Cup break. This marks a significant change from their previous undefeated streak under manager Graham Potter, which lasted for their first nine games. In addition to their defeats, Chelsea has also been eliminated from the EFL Cup by Manchester City and suffered Premier League losses against Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal, and Newcastle United. Despite their recent struggles, Chelsea has had some success in the Champions League, advancing to the knockout stages as group winners.
However, Chelsea is currently ranked eighth in the Premier League table and is only two points above the bottom half. There are also questions about Potter’s future at the club.
In contrast, Bournemouth has recently undergone a change in ownership and has had success in the EFL Cup and Premier League, winning both of their recent games against Everton by a 7-1 aggregate score. Bournemouth has struggled in the Premier League, with three consecutive losses away from home and no wins in their last five games on rival turf. They have also conceded the most goals on rival turf in the division.
Despite this, Bournemouth has a strong record against Chelsea, having remained undefeated in their last three Premier League games against the team, winning two and drawing one between 2019 and 2020.
Chelsea vs Bournemouth Team News
Chelsea will be without several key players, including Armando Broja who has suffered a season-ending ACL injury, for their game against Bournemouth. In addition, Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic will be given more time to recover after the World Cup, while Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also unavailable due to injuries.
Mason Mount and Kepa Arrizabalaga may also be absent due to calf and foot injuries, respectively. However, only Mount is expected to have a good chance of recovering in time for the game.
Bournemouth has also been hit with a number of absences, including Ben Pearson, Joe Rothwell, and Ryan Fredericks who were all affected by a virus. In addition, Neto and David Brooks are out until the New Year, while Jefferson Lerma, Lloyd Kelly, and Marcus Tavernier will need to undergo last-minute fitness tests. Lerma is expected to be available for the game, but Tavernier’s participation is uncertain.
Chelsea vs Bournemouth Possible Lineup
Chelsea (Possible XI): Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Jorginho, Gallagher, Cucurella; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling
Bournemouth (Possible XI): Travers; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Christie, Cook, Lerma, Anthony; Billing, Solanke
Chelsea vs Bournemouth Prediction
Given the number of injuries plaguing Chelsea and the impact of a winter bug on Bournemouth, this may not be a standout game. Furthermore, Chelsea has struggled to score goals recently. However, the Blues have generally performed well at Stamford Bridge and have not had to travel far to play Newcastle, so it is possible that a refreshed Chelsea team could end their streak of defeats with a narrow victory.
