Match Preview
Chelsea aim to recover from a dip in form which has seen them earn two points from four Premier League matches when they host Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Enzo Maresca’s side fell four points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest after surprise defeats at home to Fulham and away to Ipswich Town between draws at Everton and Crystal Palace.
Maresca is still keen to play down rumors that Chelsea have always been title contenders this season, and fifth-placed Newcastle are now one point behind their team, with Manchester City one point below the Magpies.
Seventh-placed Bournemouth would be level on points with Chelsea with a win, and their confidence should be high after recording a club record eight top-flight games without defeat thanks to a 1-0 home win over Everton on January 4 .
#CHEBOU preparations. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/9KRadUewpJ
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2025
Andoni Iraola’s Cherries are strengthening their European qualification hopes with each passing week, and their five wins in those eight matches include a home win over Tottenham and a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford for a second season consecutive.
The Spaniard says Bournemouth “must be better” than in their 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea on September 14, when they had seven of 10 attempts on target between the sides but were beaten by Christopher Nkunku’s goal in the 86th minute.
“We will need a very, very good performance,” Iraola said. “We will probably have to improve our finishing. It’s not difficult to understand what [Chelsea] TO DO, [but] it is difficult to stop them.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us but hopefully also for them because we have some good threats.”
Eden loved a goal against Bournemouth. 😍#CHEBOU 🔜 pic.twitter.com/EcMOtkkVbh
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2025
Maresca described Bournemouth as “very tough” and attributed their success to a “press with real intensity which makes it difficult for the teams”.
“They always try to be intense and what they do on and off the ball is very clear,” he observed. “They are direct, physically very strong and fast.”
Chelsea vs Bournemouth team news
Wideman Reece James and midfielder Romeo Lavia returned for 45 minutes of Chelsea’s 5-0 FA Cup win at home to Fourth Division side Morecambe on Saturday, and Maresca said both players were ready to play against Bournemouth.
The Italian added that England striker Noni Madueke was back in action following illness. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is doubtful after missing the Shrimps’ drubbing, while Benoit Badiashile has a thigh problem and compatriot Wesley Fofana may not play again this season due to a hamstring injury.
We can confirm that Max Aarons has completed a loan move to Valencia 🤝 pic.twitter.com/rTaYMwWpmM
– AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 13, 2025
Bournemouth’s forwards appear to have been cursed since the turn of the year, with Evanilson breaking a bone in his foot against Everton and Enes Unal suffering a second serious knee injury of his career in training last week.
Daniel Jebbison is now Iraola’s only senior striker, and the 21-year-old chose a welcome moment to score his first goal of the season in their 5-1 FA Cup win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, after being recalled from his loan at Watford.
The former England youth international had not scored in his first 16 matches of 2024/25 in the Championship and Premier League, although only four of those were starts.
Loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga, whose £71.6 million move from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018 still makes him the most expensive goalkeeper in history, is ineligible to play against his parent club, while new defender Julio Soler is on duty with Argentina’s under-20s.
There is better news in midfield, where Iraola confirmed that Ryan Christie is in the running after missing the visit of West Brom.
This team move 😮💨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/NmHDkgqN2M
– AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 12, 2025
Chelsea v Bournemouth andexpected queues
Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernández, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Bournemouth: Cross; Hill, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Brooks; Ouattara
