Chelsea
will have to do without Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante as they pursue a
12th-consecutive Premier League victory when Bournemouth travel to Stamford
Bridge on Boxing Day.
The league leaders will be without their leading goalscorer and midfield
anchor for the visit of the Cherries, with both players serving a one-game
ban for their fifth yellow cards of the season in last Saturday's victory at
Crystal Palace.
Costa's 13th goal of the season earned the Blues a hard-fought victory at
Selhurst Park and moved Antonio Conte's men six points clear at the top of
the table after a club record-equalling 11th successive league win.
Chelsea are just two victories away from equalling the Premier League's
all-time winning streak record, but Bournemouth left Stamford Bridge with
all three points last season.
Eddie Howe's men head to west London looking to extend an impressive Boxing
Day record, with the Cherries unbeaten in each of their last six league
games played on December 26 (W4 D2 L0), conceding just one goal in the
process.
Team news
Chelsea could turn to Michy Batshuayi to replace Costa or switch from the
3-4-3 formation which has underpinned their winning run.
Club captain John Terry remains out with a gluteal strain.
Howe will not be able to play on-loan Chelsea defender Nathan Ake, who is
not eligible for selection against his parent club.
However the Cherries could be boosted by the possibel return of midfield duo
Junior Stanislas (ankle) and Andrew Surman (hamstring), who have an outside
chance of playing.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won five of their previous seven games in all competitions
against Bournemouth, losing the other two.
However, the Cherries did beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season 1-0,
thanks to a goal from Glenn Murray.
Chelsea haven't lost a league game on Boxing Day since being beaten by
Charlton 4-2 in 2003 (W6 D5 L0 since).
If Chelsea win this match, they'll set an outright club top-flight record of
12 successive league wins, beating a run of 11 wins set in September 2009.
The overall top-flight record for consecutive wins is 14; set by Arsenal in
between February and August 2002.
Chelsea are top of the Premier League on Christmas Day for the fifth time.
They have won the league title on each of the four previous occasions they
have topped the Premier League at Christmas (2014-15, 2009-10, 2005-06 and
2004-05).
Diego Costa will be missing this game through suspension. The Spaniard has
had a hand in 18 of Chelsea's 35 Premier League goals this season (51 per
cent - 13 goals, 5 assists).
Merson's prediction
If there were two players Chelsea would least like to play without, it would
be Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante. That's what they're faced with against
Bournemouth, but I still think they will be too strong. You're never too
sure about Bournemouth: one minute they're getting slaughtered by
Southampton at home and then before that they beat Liverpool and Leicester.
Costa and Kante will be missed but Chelsea have picked up the habit of
winning games.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
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