Bournemouth in search of back-to-back victories as Chelsea visits.
AFC Bournemouth vs
Chelsea
After a sensational last-gasp victory over Everton, Bournemouth aim to defy recent history and secure back-to-back wins as they host Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium this Saturday evening.
AFC Bournemouth
A stunning 3-2 comeback victory, despite being two goals down with only three minutes of regular time left, gave Bournemouth their first win of the season. Two stoppage-time goals following Semenyo's strike in the 87th minute ended a run of successive draws as the Cherries climbed to 8th place in the Premier League table with five points.
Facing Liverpool after this weekend’s clash with the Blues, securing at least a point would be ideal for Bournemouth. A win would not only mean back-to-back victories but also allow the Cherries to remain unbeaten in their first four games. However, Bournemouth have not won in their last five Premier League encounters with Chelsea.
Andoni Iraola placed Evanilson at the top of the 4-2-3-1 formation in the match against Everton and is likely to repeat this strategy against Chelsea. The Cherries will be missing Tyler Adams and Enes Ünal due to injuries, with Philip Billing also doubtful following a back injury.
Chelsea
Chelsea recently secured a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace just before the international break. Nicolas Jackson scored five minutes before the half-hour mark with an easy tap-in, but Crystal Palace equalized with a stunning effort from Eberechi Eze.
The draw left Chelsea with 4 points (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss) and positioned them at 11th place in the Premier League standings. Climbing the table remains a priority for Enzo Maresca’s squad after the break.
Fortunately for Chelsea, they have a strong away record against Bournemouth, with only one defeat in seven Premier League encounters (4 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss). A victory on Saturday would give Chelsea a four-game unbeaten away run for the first time since April 2022.
Enzo Maresca is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation with Nicolas Jackson leading the attack. However, Reece James and three other players, including Malo Gusto, are ruled out, while Cole Palmer is doubtful due to muscle fatigue.
