Chelsea come into Saturday’s game against Bournemouth on the back of an impressive win over Manchester City. Antonio Conte sprung a few surprises with his team selection on Wednesday night as the Italian boss restored Cesc Fabregas and the little used Kurt Zouma to the line-up and both players responded with fine displays. Fabregas was playing the night after welcoming his 3rd child into the world. Leonardo Fàbregas Semaan is Cesc’s first son after he has had two daughters so far with his wife and fatherhood clearly agrees with the midfielder as he played a fine game for the soon to be Champions.
Chelsea managed to destroy any doubts that they were about to have a major splutter in their attempt to win the title as they managed a solid if not spectacular win over Pep Guardiola’s side.
Chelsea go to the Vitality Stadium having won 6 of their 8 games vs the Cherries in all competitions while losing only twice one of which came last season at home when they went down 1-0. Chelsea’s only loss away to Bournemouth came back in September 1988.
Chelsea have won their last 2 games against Bournemouth netting 7 goals in the process. The fit again Eden Hazard has scored 3 times in 3 previous Premier League appearances against Bournemouth so we can expect the tricky Belgian to be the tormentor in chief against the Cherries.
Antonio Conte’s side have one of the best road records in the Premier League having won 33 points from their 15 away games so far in the 2016-17 season; only twice in Chelsea’s history have they picked up more points at this stage of the season – they secured 35 points in the 2003/04 season and 38 points in the 2004/05 season.
The Blues have lost only once in their last 12 Premier League away matches, winning 9 times and drawing twice.
Diego Costa is overdue for a goal, which would be his 50th for the team in the Premier League. He has netted only 1 goal in his last 5 road appearances in the League, this after scoring 8 in his previous 9 games this season.
Costa hasn’t scored in any of his last 3 Premier League appearances and he’s never gone 4 games in a row in the competition without scoring. The last time he did this in league competition was as an Atletico Madrid player back in January 2014.
Bournemouth have won consecutive Premier League fixtures at the Vitality Stadium, netting five goals in the process. They could win three in a row for just the second time in the Premier League which they also accomplished back in October 2016.
Josh King is the form man for the Cherries and has doubled his Premier League goal tally from last season with 12 goals so far this campaign, scoring 9 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for the Cherries
King has scored 4 goals and added an assist in his last 5 Premier League matches at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth sit in 13th spot in the Premier League, 7 points above the relegation places and only 5 points short of the mythical 40 point plateau which usually assures safety.
Eddie Howe has the Cherries playing an attractive brand of football but we think after their recent wake-up call from the loss to Crystal Palace that Chelsea will not take Howe’s men lightly. Therefore we expect the Blues will deliver a professional performance and will come out on top by a 3-1 scoreline as Costa will return to the goal scoring column with an overdue goal or 2 along with Eden Hazard.