Match preview

Chelsea aim to bounce back from a slump in form when they host Bournemouth on Tuesday, picking up two points from four Premier League matches.

Enzo Maresca’s side fell four points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest following the shock defeat. At home to Fulham And away to Ipswich Town between draws at Everton and Crystal Palace.

Maresca continues to be keen to discuss how Chelsea were title contenders this season, and fifth-placed Newcastle are now a point behind his team, with Manchester City a point behind the Magpies.

Seventh-placed Bournemouth will go level on points with Chelsea with a win and their confidence should be high after a club-record eight top-flight games unbeaten run courtesy of a 1-0 home win over Everton on January 4.

#Chebu Preparations ⏳ pic.twitter.com/9KRadUewpJ

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2025

Andoni Iraola’s Cherries are strengthening their hopes of European qualification with each passing week, and their five wins in those eight matches include a home win against Tottenham. Beat Manchester United 3-0 for the second successive season at Old Trafford.

The Spaniard says Bournemouth “should be better” than the 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea on September 14, when seven of the 10 attempts between the teams were on target but Christopher Nkanku’s 86th-minute goal defeated them.

“We will need a very good performance,” Irola said. “We probably need to improve our finishing. It’s not hard to understand what (Chelsea) do, (but) it’s hard to stop them.

“It will be a challenge for us but, I hope, a challenge for them as well, because we have good threats.”

Aidan loved the goal against Bournemouth. 😍#Chebu 🔜 pic.twitter.com/EcMOtkkVbh

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 13, 2025

Maresca described Bournemouth as “very tough” and attributed their success to “pressing with real intensity which makes it difficult for teams”.

“They always try to be sharp and it’s obvious what they do on and off the ball,” he observed. “They are straight, physically very strong and fast.”

Chelsea vs Bournemouth Team News

Wideman Reece James and midfielder Romeo Lavia made their comebacks in the 45th minute of Chelsea’s 5-0 FA Cup win at home to fourth-tier Morecambe on Saturday, and Maresca has said both players are ready to play against Bournemouth.

The Italian added that England forward Nonny Maduke is back in contention after illness. Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a doubt after missing the thrashing of the Shrimps, while Benoit Badiashil has a thigh problem and fellow centre-back Wesley Fofana may not play again this season with 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 strikers have appeared to be cursed since the start of the year, with a broken leg bone against Everton and Ines Unall suffering the second serious knee injury of his career in training last week.

Daniel Jebison is now Iraola’s only senior out-and-out striker and the 21-year-old picked up welcome time to score his first goal of the season in Saturday’s 5-1 FA Cup win over West Bromwich Albion. Recalled from his loan at Watford.

The former England youth international did not score in his first 16 matches of 2024/25 in the Championship and Premier League, although only four of those were starts.

On-loan Capa 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 Argentina Under-20 duty. is

There is better news in the midfielder, where Irola has confirmed it Ryan Christie is in controversy After missing out on a visit to West Brom.

This team move 😮‍💨🌪️ pic.twitter.com/NmHDkgqN2M

— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) January 12, 2025

Chelsea vs Bournemouth eExpected line-ups

Chelsea: Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabio, Colville, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Bournemouth: traverse; Hill, Zabarni, Huijsen, Kerkes; Christy, Cook; Semenyo, Kluivert, Brooks; Ouattara