- Chelsea are winless in four Premier League games
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in nine across all competitions 
- Recommended bet: Bournemouth double chance

A month ago, Chelsea were a victory shy of overtaking Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Now, they head into their second league game of 2025 in desperate need of points.

The Blues are winless in their last four in the league, giving them a slender lead in the race for the top four.

Seventh-placed Bournemouth are only three points shy of Chelsea and part of a packed race for the European spots. 

Team news

With Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile out, Enzo Maresca has to choose between Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi to partner Levi Colwill.

The Blues will also bring back their stars after resting them in their weekend cup clash with Morecambe.

Bournemouth have issues in attack, with Evanilson and Enes Unal both ruled out.

That should leave Antoine Semenyo leading the line with the Cherries short on centre forwards. 

The stats

Bournemouth have picked up five wins and three draws across their last eight in the league and have lost only five of their 20 league games this season.

Chelsea have dropped points in five of their nine home league games.

Bournemouth's only away defeat at a top-half side came at Liverpool.

Chelsea have won two of six meetings with the top seven. Four of those six games have come at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues drawing twice and losing once.

Prediction

Bournemouth continued a brilliant run of form with Saturday's 5-1 victory over West Brom in the cup.

The Cherries are now unbeaten in nine across all competitions, while they have won five of their last eight Premier League assignments.

While Andoni Iraola enjoyed a good debut campaign with Bournemouth last season, his team were vulnerable to the league's top sides.

That has turned around this term, with the Cherries losing only twice across six clashes with the teams above them.

Iraola's side are genuine contenders for a European place, having lost only five times across their first 20 games.

They are good value for a victory, having posted the third-highest Expected Goals for and the sixth-lowest Expected Goals against. 

Chelsea's blunt run may have come to an end against League Two Morecambe, winning 5-0, but this is a very different test.

The Blues have been frustrated by Crystal Palace and Everton in their last four, while falling to defeats against Fulham and Ipswich.

Despite Maresca's good start at Stamford Bridge, his team have dropped points in five of their nine home league games this term.

Chelsea have not looked the same without Fofana, who allows the team to be more adventurous with their high line without sacrificing defensive stability.

Bournemouth will create plenty of chances against a weakened Chelsea defence, while the Blues are struggling going forward.

Cole Palmer was nullified when these two met at the Vitality Stadium and that bodes well for the visitors' chances of securing a result. 

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