Team
news, key stats and ways to follow ahead of Bournemouth vs Chelsea in the
Premier League.
Team news
Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake could return to face his former club Chelsea
at the Vitality Stadium.
Dutchman Ake, who left the Blues on a permanent deal during June 2017, sat
out last weekend's defeat at Burnley because of concussion. Midfielder
Jefferson Lerma (back) could also be in contention after returning to
training.
Wales international David Brooks (ankle), forward Arnaut Danjuma (foot),
defender Chris Mepham (knee), Lloyd Kelly (thigh) and Charlie Daniels (knee)
all continue their own recovery.
Tammy Abraham will miss Chelsea's Premier League trip to Bournemouth with a
recurrence of his ankle injury.
The England striker hobbled out of the warm-down after Chelsea's 3-0 loss to
Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
Christian Pulisic (adductor), N'Golo Kante (adductor) and Callum Hudson-Odoi
(hamstring) are all still sidelined
Opta stats
Bournemouth have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with
Chelsea (L1), including the last two in a row. They're looking to complete
the league double over Chelsea for the very first time.
None of the nine previous Premier League meetings between Bournemouth and
Chelsea have been drawn (four wins for Bournemouth, five for Chelsea), with
the away side winning six of the nine games (67 per cent).
Since they were promoted to the division in 2015, only Manchester City have
won (6) and kept more clean sheets (5) in the Premier League against Chelsea
than Bournemouth (four wins, four clean sheets).
Each of the last 12 Premier League goals in Bournemouth vs Chelsea matches
have come in the second half. Indeed, just two of Bournemouth's 11 Premier
League goals against the Blues have come before half-time, with the Cherries
losing both times they netted before the interval.
Bournemouth have won their last two Premier League home games, last winning
three in a row at the Vitality Stadium in February 2018. They've won as many
points in their last two at home as they had in their previous eight (W1 D3
L4).
Bournemouth have failed to score in 11 of their 27 league games this season,
just one fewer than in the whole of 2018-19. Only Watford (12) have failed
to find the net in more top-flight games this term.
Chelsea are looking to secure consecutive Premier League victories for the
first time since a run of six between September-November. The Blues are
still winless away from home in the Premier League in 2020 (D2 L1).
Chelsea have conceded 45 per cent of the shots on target they've faced in
the Premier League this season (37/83), more than any other side. Indeed,
it's the highest such ratio any side has conceded in a single season since
this data is available (2003-04).
Bournemouth have scored fewer second-half goals than any other side in the
Premier League this season (10). They've also scored a league-low ratio 38
per cent after half-time (10/26), while Chelsea have conceded a league-high
65 per cent of their Premier League goals after the interval (24/37).
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud netted his first Premier League goal of the
season last time out against Spurs - the Frenchman has been involved in five
goals in his three league starts against Bournemouth (one goal, four
assists).
Charlie Nicholas' prediction
This is another good test for Chelsea, who were shown up against Bayern
Munich.
Bournemouth know what it means, and what they need to do to survive. I
thought they were treated harshly at Burnley. The footballing network does
not have a sympathy button. They folded when decisions went against them,
which in a way was understandable.
Chelsea are effective on the counter-attack, but their home form is
terrible. There is an awkwardness with Chelsea only hanging three points
above Manchester United, with the others honing in too. Bournemouth are
going to go all out for this. I feel they will and have to get something
from this, with Chelsea's Champions League tie taking quite a bit out of
them.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-2 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
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