Bournemouth and Chelsea both head into Saturday’s meeting at the Vitality Stadium looking to recover from disappointing midweek defeats. This will be their first encounter since January, when they shared a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, capped by Reece James’s dramatic 95th-minute equaliser.
Bournemouth endured a miserable November, failing to win any of their four league games and conceding 12 goals along the way. Their most recent setback came last weekend at Sunderland, where they let a two-goal lead slip in a chaotic 3-2 defeat. December began in similar fashion, with Everton snatching a 78th-minute winner on Tuesday night to hand the Cherries their first home loss of the season.
After that match, Andoni Iraola didn’t hide his frustration, describing his side’s display as “really poor.” He highlighted a worrying lack of energy in midfield — a key factor behind their slump, with only two wins in their last 10 Premier League games. The Cherries have tumbled from second place to 14th, and while they remain just five points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, the pressure on Iraola — out of contract this summer and linked with top clubs — is growing.
Bournemouth will try to avoid consecutive home defeats for the first time since April. Fourteen of their 19 points have been secured at the Vitality Stadium this season, but their overall record against Chelsea at home is bleak: just two wins in 11 meetings, the last coming back in January 2019.
Chelsea, meanwhile, turned in one of their worst displays of the season on Wednesday as they fell 3-1 to struggling Leeds United. Despite dominating possession and completing a season-high 630 passes, they carved out only three real chances and looked disjointed at the back. Enzo Maresca admitted afterwards that Leeds — who had lost four in a row — were “better in all aspects.”
Now nine points behind leaders Arsenal, Chelsea have coped admirably without Cole Palmer for much of the season, but the loss of Moises Caicedo to a three-game suspension could be far more damaging. Since his arrival in 2023, the Blues have won just two of eight league matches without him.
With seven fixtures crammed into the final 24 days of 2025, there is no time for Chelsea to dwell on their latest setback. Their trip to Bournemouth will be followed quickly by a Champions League showdown in Italy against Atalanta. Encouragingly, they have been stronger on the road this season, claiming 13 away points compared to 11 at Stamford Bridge, and they remain unbeaten in their last four visits to Bournemouth, including a 1-0 win on their most recent trip in September 2024.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Bournemouth will again be without Ryan Christie, who is recovering from a knee injury, and Ben Gannon Doak, who remains sidelined with a hamstring problem. Lewis Cook and Tyler Adams are also unavailable due to suspension, with Adams serving a one-match ban after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season.
On a more positive note, Marcos Senesi and David Brooks return from their own one-match suspensions. Senesi is expected to come straight back into central defence in place of Veljko Milosavljevic, while Brooks is poised to compete with Amine Adli for a place on the right wing. Cook and Adams being out may force Marcus Tavernier into a deeper midfield role next to Alex Scott, and Evanilson could be recalled to lead the line ahead of Eli Junior Kroupi.
Chelsea will again be without Moises Caicedo as he serves the second match of his three-game suspension. Levi Colwill is sidelined with a knee issue, while Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo and suspended winger Mykhaylo Mudryk are also unavailable. Cole Palmer, who recently returned from a long layoff, made his comeback as a second-half substitute in the defeat at Leeds, and Enzo Maresca must now decide whether to start him at the Vitality Stadium.
If Palmer is restored to the starting XI in his preferred No.10 role, Liam Delap may drop out, with Joao Pedro moving into the central striker position. Enzo Fernandez is expected to remain in a deeper midfield role and could be joined by captain Reece James, who was rested in midweek.
Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are pushing for starts on the wings ahead of Estevao and Jamie Gittens, while Malo Gusto is likely to reclaim his right-back role, allowing Trevoh Chalobah to return to centre-back alongside Wesley Fofana.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Tavernier; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro
EXPERT PREDICTION
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea
