Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Chelsea vs Bournemouth in the Premier
League on Saturday.
Team news
Chelsea will be without Fikayo Tomori as they host Bournemouth, with the
defender not yet recovered from a hip strain. The 21-year-old signed a new
five-year deal with the club earlier in the week.
Antonio Rudiger returned to the side against Lille in midweek and could be
included again on Saturday, although Olivier Giroud did miss the Champions
League win. Ruben Loftus-Cheek continues to be sidelined with a long-term
Achilles injury.
Bournemouth's injury woes continue, with Eddie Howe confirming that Nathan
Ake faces a few weeks out with a hamstring injury picked up in last
weekend's 3-0 loss to Liverpool. However, Callum Wilson could feature after
also coming off in the same game.
Josh King also has a chance of being fit, but Steve Cook, Adam Smith, David
Brookes, Lloyd Kelly and Charlie Daniels remain out.
Opta stats
Chelsea have alternated between defeat and victory in their four Premier
League home games against Bournemouth, winning this exact fixture 2-0 last
season.
Since Bournemouth were promoted to the Premier League in 2015, only
Liverpool (3) have beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the competition more
often than the Cherries (2).
None of the 15 meetings between Chelsea and Bournemouth in all competitions
have ended in a draw, with the Blues winning 11 of those.
Chelsea have lost three of their last four Premier League games (W1) - as
many as they had in their previous 20 in the competition (W12 D5 L3).
Bournemouth have lost their last five Premier League games - they last had a
longer run of consecutive league defeats in September 1994 (a run of seven).
Bournemouth have lost each of their last six Premier League games in London,
conceding 20 goals in the process. In total they've won just six of their 24
top-flight games in the capital (D3 L15), with 33% of these victories coming
at Chelsea.
Chelsea have lost two of their eight Premier League home games this season
(W4 D2), more than they did in the whole of 2018-19 under Maurizio Sarri
(W12 D6 L1).
Only Manchester City (337) have had more shots than Chelsea in the Premier
League this season (274). The Blues' average of 17.1 shots per game is their
highest in a single campaign since 2013-14 (18.2).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
This scoreline is going to be unpredictable to work out. This is where Jeff
Stelling will be sitting smug for his £250,000. Bournemouth don't score
goals now - they are better defensively but are not getting the points.
Chelsea got through to the knockout stages of the Champions League so they
will be full of confidence.
Willian has been different class as much as the youngsters have excelled. I
do see a comfortable Chelsea win. I don't know how Bournemouth will park up
in this one. They used to come and play but I don't think they will do that,
so this is a hard one to call.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-1 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
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