Bournemouth v Chelsea team news & stats

Mark Holmes
Eden Hazard: Chelsea winger not expected to face Bournemouth

Eden Hazard: Chelsea winger not expected to face Bournemouth

Bournemouth will hope to become the first newly-promoted team since Charlton in 2001 to complete a Premier League double over Chelsea when they welcome the champions to Dean Court on Saturday.

Team news

Adam Smith and Harry Arter again miss out for Bournemouth with groin and Achilles injuries, while Benik Afobe also remains sidelined despite stepping up his rehabilitation after a hamstring injury.

Callum Wilson made another substitute appearance in the 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool and will be involved again as he targets a return to the starting XI following six months out with a knee injury.

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard is in contention to return to the squad after a five-game absence with hip and groin problems, but Thibaut Courtois begins his two-match suspension after being sent off for the second time this season against Manchester City.

John Terry remains out with an Achilles problem, while Loic Remy (groin) and Kurt Zouma (knee) are also sidelined.

Opta stats

  • Bournemouth have won just two of their previous six meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (L4), but one of those came earlier this season.
  • Bournemouth striker Glenn Murray was on the field for 97 seconds before scoring the winner against Chelsea in December.
  • Chelsea have not lost both home and away against a newly-promoted side in a single Premier League season since 2000-01 (vs Charlton Athletic).
  • Bournemouth have lost their last two home league matches – they have not lost three in a row in league competition at home since March 2013.
  • Chelsea have conceded just three goals in eight Premier League away games under Guus Hiddink.
  • Defeat by Swansea City in their last away game ended Guus Hiddink’s unbeaten run as Chelsea boss in the Premier League and also ended a run of seven matches without defeat away from home for the Blues (W5 D2).
  • Even if Chelsea win their remaining five games of the season, their maximum points tally will be 59. This will be the lowest by a reigning top-flight league champion since Leeds United in 1992-93 (51).
  • Joshua King has scored in four of his last six Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, after netting just two goals in his opening 21 PL apps of 2015-16.
  • Callum Wilson has scored five goals from just eight shots on target in the Premier League this season.

Predictions

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