Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Match preview, predicted lineups, quotes, form, injuries and how to watch

When and where to watch Chelsea vs Bournemouth

Chelsea vs Bournemouth kicks off at 5.30pm on Tuesday 27 December.

You can catch all the action from Stamford Bridge on Amazon Prime via BT TV.

Chelsea vs Bournemouth preview

Graham Potter's start to life at Stamford Bridge has been a bit hit-and-miss so far. 

A positive start domestically under their new manager saw the Blues defeat Crystal Palace, Wolves and Aston Villa with six different players getting on the scoresheet. 

Since then however, the Blues haven't tasted a league victory in five games and have lost their last three, scoring only once overall in defeats to Potter's old side Brighton, Arsenal and Newcastle, although Chelsea did comfortably top their Champions League group. 

Bournemouth meanwhile can be pleased with the form they've shown under Gary O'Neil, who took over at the end of August with the team reeling from a 9-0 thumping at Liverpool that led to Scott Parker getting the sack and was given the job permanently during the World Cup period. 

The Cherries responded to that humiliation impressively, winning two and drawing four in the league, and despite then suffering four defeats on the spin, they rounded off the period before the mid-season break by beating Everton 3-0, although their return to action saw them slip to a 1-0 loss at the hands of Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. 

As they prepare to head to west London, the South Coast side will also be greatly encouraged that their opponents have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last seven matches in all competitions, with a frequent source of those goals conceded being crosses into the box, allowing Manchester United, Brighton, Arsenal, Red Bull Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb to all profit since 22 October. That said though, before Bournemouth have the leakiest defence in the division (32 goals conceded). 

Chelsea vs Bournemouth predicted lineups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Chukwuemeka, Jorginho; Sterling, Havertz, Mount; Aubameyang.  

Bournemouth (4-4-2): Travers; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Christie, Cook, Lerma, Billing; Solanke, Moore. 

Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Injuries and suspensions

Chelsea are without N'Golo Kante (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Ben Chilwell (ankle) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (calf), while Kepa Arrizabalaga is a doubt as he continues to recovery from a foot problem and Armando Broja is out for the rest of the season after an ACL rupture in a recent friendly against Aston Villa.

In positive news, Reece James and Carney Chukwuemeka both played during this month's after suffering knee and hamstring problems respectively, and could both feature, with the teenager potentially able to profit from Mateo Kovacic's late return from international duty, while Hakim Ziyech is also not back from his post-World Cup holiday. Thiago Silva, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Raheem Sterling are back from Qatar though. 

For Bournemouth, long-term absentee Lloyd Kelly is back in training after a long-term ankle injury, but this game will probably be too soon for the former Bristol City youngster. Goalkeeper Neto is unlikely to be involved after rupturing a thigh muscle against West Ham in October, but isn't too far away, while Chris Mepham is back from suspension. 

Jefferson Lerma is expected to recover from a knock to his knee, but Gary O'Neil is less optimistic about Marcus Tavernier's involvement after he picked up a problem over the World Cup period. Ryan Fredericks has been ill and will be assessed closer to the game. 

Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Last time they met

The sides last met in February 2020, sharing the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium. 

After Philip Billing was denied by Willy Caballero, Chelsea took the lead on 33 minutes as Reece James and Jorginho exchanged passes before the right-back whipped in a teasing ball which Olivier Giroud flicked onto the crossbar, with the rebound falling invitingly into the path of Marcos Alonso to lash home. 

However, Bournemouth equalised nine minutes after the break as Ryan Fraser's corner was headed in by Jefferson Lerma, and the turnaround was complete when a flowing team move culminated in Jack Stacey crossing for Josh King to guide into an empty net at the back post. 

Both Caballero and Aaron Ramsdale were tested further as the game entered a tense final period, but it was Ramsdale who was picking the ball out of the back of his net on 85 minutes as the now-Arsenal goalkeeper could only palm Pedro's drive into the path of Alonso, who caught Fraser napping to head home.

The reverse fixture in November 2019 had seen the Cherries sensationally claim a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. 

Fraser was kept out by Kepa Arrizabalaga early on, while Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic were unable to convert at the other end. 

Eddie Howe's men then had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but after Josh King skipped past Antonio Rudiger, his square ball just evaded the stretching Dan Gosling. 

However, Chelsea weren't able to underline their status and favourites, with Emerson Palmieri somehow failing to head in from only a couple of yards out as Gosling had the last laugh, finishing acrobatically from Lerma's ball over the top for a goal that was initially flagged for offside before a VAR overrule. 

He said what?!

Graham Potter on whether he had changed his mind on Hakim Ziyech by the Moroccan's World Cup displays:

"He played against Man City, he came on against Newcastle [both in November]. He was a little bit away from the first XI when we first came, but he’s been involved in the games. He came on in our first game [against Red Bull Salzburg in November].

"We know his qualities. We like him as a player. He plays between the lines, has fantastic quality, as we saw at the World Cup.

"At Chelsea there are always good players who aren’t in the starting XI. You have to be patient. Delighted for him he got the game time and helped his team. I kept in touch with him over the World Cup. He’s a good guy and he’s got quality."

Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Players to watch

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is without a goal in his last seven games and this match is the perfect chance to end a frustrating run of form. 

Philip Billing and Kieffer Moore lead the way for the visitors in terms of league goals with four apiece, with the Dane proving dangerous with late runs into the box and deceptively good link-up play, while Moore's ability to bring in midfielders and occupy opposition defenders with his aerial prowess is hugely important for Bournemouth. 

Chelsea vs Bournemouth: Key stats

• Bournemouth have incredibly won three of their last five league games at Chelsea

• Chelsea have failed to score more than one goal in each of their past five league matches - the last time they did so for six consecutive league games was in January 2021