December is the month the place issues both make or break for Premier League groups. This yr, we’d as effectively ask if Chelsea have been damaged past restore.
A single league win in 5 matches burned out all of the “fats” that made us dream of seeing the hole lastly closing between ourselves and the highest of the pack. Seems we’re very effectively inside that very pack with Manchester United and Sunderland able to overtake.
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We are able to put a cease to this by beating a Bournemouth aspect whose kind has been a lot worse and considerably longer. That a lot wanted restore is correct there.
Date / Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 19:30 GMT; 2:30pm EST; 1am IST (subsequent day)Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6Referee: Sam Barrott (on pitch); Craig Pawson (VAR)Forecast: Clear sky and light-weight winds
On TV: Sky Sports activities (UK); USA Community, Telemundo (USA); none (India); SuperSport MáXimo 1 (NGA); Streaming: Sky GO (UK); NBC Sports activities App (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Chelsea group information: A defensive position that sorely misses Levi Colwill will stay with out him on this upcoming match. Similar goes for Dário Essugo, Roméo Lavia and Jorrel Hato, the latter not a long-term absentee just like the others however nonetheless some methods out from full restoration.
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Cole Palmer, who’s clearly not at 100% capability simply but, might be on a daily foundation on phrases of whether or not he’s match to function in opposition to Bournemouth. Similar goes for Reece James, with Enzo Maresca having to handle the match load for the captain after a really busy schedule for us and for him.
Talking of Reece, his harm administration is a mannequin for Wesley Fofana to comply with. He was a bench possibility in our 2-1 loss to Aston Villa final Saturday, and he would possibly function on the Bridge versus the Cherries.
Bournemouth group information: The grass is all the time greener on the opposite aspect. However not on the Cherries’ area who don’t know what a win is since November, with 4 attracts and 5 losses in nive matches since.
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So the query is: can we keep away from our Robin Hood syndrome?
Their important absentee is midfielder Tyler Adams, who suffered an MCL harm in a 4-4 draw to Manchester United two weeks in the past. Fellow midfielder Alex Scott, who left the pitch within the ultimate minutes of Bournemouth’s 4-1 defeat in opposition to Brentford final weekend as a consequence of a knock, is uncertain.
Beforehand: Keep in mind Raheem Sterling?