Bournemouth vs. Chelsea - Preview, prediction, team news, lineups, available players, missing players
In a match that could have serious implications for the relegation battle, Bournemouth will host Chelsea at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. The Blues, who are enduring a terrible run of form, will be desperate to end their six-match losing streak across all competitions. Meanwhile, the Cherries will be aiming to record three consecutive Premier League victories for the first time this season.
Bournemouth had a tough start to the season, with the team losing more games, winning fewer points, and scoring fewer goals than any other Premier League side between the World Cup break and March. However, they have managed to turn their fortunes around in recent weeks, thanks to the impact of new manager Gary O'Neil.
In terms of team news, Bournemouth will be without the services of Marcus Tavernier (hamstring), Ryan Fredericks (calf), and Junior Stanislas (unspecified), while Chris Mepham (hamstring), Kieffer Moore (head), and Hamed Traore (foot) are all doubtful and will be assessed closer to kickoff. O'Neil could field a back four consisting of Adam Smith, Marcos Senesi, Lloyd Kelly, and Matias Vina, or switch to a back five and bring in either Jack Stephens or Illya Zabarnyi at centre-back. Dango Ouattara and Ryan Christie are expected to retain their places on the flanks, with Philip Billing operating in the No.10 role behind central striker Dominic Solanke.
Chelsea, on the other hand, will be without Reece James (hamstring), Mason Mount (pelvic), and Armando Broja (knee) for the rest of the season, while Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella (both hamstring) are also recovering from injuries. Manager Frank Lampard may choose to switch to a back three or stick with a flat back four, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Ben Chilwell expected to operate as either full-backs or wing-backs. Noni Madueke, who scored his first Chelsea goal in the defeat at Arsenal, may be rewarded with a second successive start on the right wing, while either Kai Havertz or Joao Felix could be recalled in attack at the expense of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had a forgettable night against his former club in midweek.
The predicted starting lineups for Bournemouth and Chelsea are as follows:
The prediction for this match is that Bournemouth will emerge victorious, with a final scoreline of 2-1 in their favor. However, given Chelsea's quality and the unpredictability of the Premier League, anything could happen on the day.
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