Bournemouth’s Challenges and Hopes: Bournemouth will be without their on-loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea. This paves the way for Mark Travers to take his place between the posts. Additionally, Dango Ouattara will miss out due to an ankle injury sustained during international duty, and Tyler Adams remains sidelined with a back injury.
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However, there’s good news for the Cherries as Enes Unal and David Brooks are back in training after long-term injuries and could make their returns, providing much-needed depth to the squad.
Chelsea’s Injury Concerns: Chelsea have their own injury problems to navigate. Malo Gusto is doubtful with a thigh injury, while fellow right-back Reece James is unavailable due to a hamstring issue despite completing his suspension. In more positive news, Cole Palmer, who withdrew from the England squad due to injury, is expected to be fit in time for the match. The return of Palmer would boost Chelsea’s attack, especially considering his remarkable form with four assists already this season.
Match Facts:
- Bournemouth are aiming to remain unbeaten in their first four Premier League matches, a feat they’ve never achieved before.
- The Cherries have scored in eight consecutive home matches, setting a new Premier League record for the club.
- Chelsea, on the other hand, have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 away matches, the longest such streak since the 1993-94 season.
- Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been directly involved in more goals in 2024 than any other player in the top five European leagues.
Head-to-Head Stats:
- Bournemouth have struggled against Chelsea in recent encounters, failing to win any of their last five Premier League meetings.
- Chelsea have lost just once in seven Premier League trips to Bournemouth, with four wins and two draws.
Prediction: Bournemouth will look to continue their strong start to the season, and with a solid home record, they are poised to put up a fight against Chelsea. The Cherries have displayed resilience, particularly with their late-game heroics, having scored four of their five goals this season after the 86th minute. With Chelsea still searching for consistency under new manager Enzo Maresca, Bournemouth may have the upper hand in this encounter.
Final Thought: Given Chelsea’s mixed start to the season and their defensive frailties, Bournemouth could cause an upset at the Vitality Stadium. A bet on Bournemouth to win or draw (Draw No Bet) might be the safest choice in what promises to be a closely contested match.
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