Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night time, realizing a win would offer a well timed elevate earlier than the curtain falls on 2025.
The Blues are heading into this must-win contest after a irritating 2-1 defeat towards Aston Villa.
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Enzo Maresca’s aspect dominated the opening proceedings with Joao Pedro giving Chelsea the lead within the thirty seventh minute after steering dwelling a harmful Reece James free kick.
Chelsea restricted Villa from having the ball and made positive Unai Emery’s troops went into the break with out recording a single shot.
For an hour, the Blues have been in cruise management till Ollie Watkins entered the fray and helped Villa flip the sport on its head.
Chelsea capitulated in entrance of their very own followers as Watkins bagged a brace to finish the Blues’ four-match unbeaten dwelling run.
That defeat noticed Chelsea slip to fifth within the desk, three factors behind Liverpool and solely forward of Manchester United on aim distinction.
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Maresca will likely be uneasy that his aspect have now gained simply as soon as of their final 5 league outings (D2, L2) – a run that features a goalless draw away to Bournemouth earlier this month.
Chelsea will take some confidence from the truth that they’ve gained two of their final three dwelling video games towards the Cherries, though James’ late free kick spared their blushes in the newest 2-2 draw.
Nevertheless, the Blues are likely to fare nicely once they wrap up the 12 months on dwelling turf, shedding simply one in every of their final 22 such video games (W13, D8).
How Chelsea may line up
The wheels started to return off for Chelsea when Maresca made a handful of second-half modifications that allowed Villa again into the sport.
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They have been untouchable for an hour, so Maresca will probably persist with the identical XI, though there may very well be a minor tweak as a consequence of .
Robert Sanchez is assured to start out in aim. Wesley Fofana may return to the XI to companion Trevoh Chalobah.
Malo Gusto may additionally are available for James, who put in an .
Maresca could decide to relaxation James from the beginning whereas Marc Cucurella retains his spot at left again.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez ought to proceed to anchor the midfield whereas Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, and Alejandro Garnacho kind the supporting solid behind striker Joao Pedro.