Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea head to the south coast on Wednesday night to play Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth. Chelsea will have new striker Gonzalo Higuain in tow and it will be the player’s first attempt to link up with Eden Hazard.
The Blues are coming off of a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in their last Premier League game. They did pick up a fourth round FA Cup win at the weekend against Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
Bournemouth are 12th in the Premier League table and 11 points ahead of the relegation zone. Bournemouth’s 2-0 win over West Ham in the league ended a four-match unbeaten run. Despite starting the season well and reaching as high as sixth after 10 matches, the Cherries have sunk like a stone. Just three of their last 13 games have ended in victories while nine games finished in losses. Bournemouth have scored the eighth most goals in the Premier League (33) while conceding the fourth most goals (42).
The good news for Howe is his team’s home form. Bournemouth have tallied 21 of their 30 points at Dean Court. They have registered a +4-goal difference playing in front of their home fans. Chelsea are the Premier League’s fourth best away side. Twenty-two of their 47 points this term have been earned on their travels. Chelsea are +9 in goal difference and that figure could increase in their favour now that Higuain has arrived. With the Argentine arriving at Stamford Bridge, it allowed misfiring Spanish striker Alvaro Morata to join Atletico Madrid on loan.
Chelsea have lost just once in their last seven games in all competitions against Bournemouth. That loss came at the end of last season as former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte saw out his time at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have outscored Bournemouth 9-5 in their last six games.
Bournemouth are without the injured trio of captain Simon Francis, Lewis Cook, and £19m signing Dominic Solanke. Chelsea, on the other hand, will have a fully fit squad. The only issue the Blues have is Sarri’s preference to play his star forward Hazard out of his usual position. The decision to play him in an unnatural area has caused some to criticise the manager.
Despite Chelsea’s recent loss to Arsenal and Sarri’s inability to adjust his tactics, they will defeat Bournemouth away. The fixture will see goals fly into the goal as Chelsea defeat Bournemouth for a second time this term. The game will see over 2.5 goals scored.