Chelsea vs. Bournemouth: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Chelsea have turned the corner in recent weeks with three consecutive clean sheets. Entertaining Bournemouth on Saturday, the champions can ill-afford not to take the same number of points.
It's been positive for Jose Mourinho's men with them seemingly rediscovering that steely approach for which they are famed.
Now they must turn those good performances into consistent victories if they are to have any chance of salvaging their season.
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Mourinho's side trail fourth-placed Arsenal by 12 points and know a successful December can help reduce the deficit. With the busy Christmas period fast approaching, it's a time of the year when teams can create momentum, which Chelsea are hinting at doing.
It would help if their best players were on form. Eden Hazard and others have looked better, but Diego Costa remains a problem.
The Spanish international was benched for the draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, although Mourinho is expecting him to return to form on Saturday.
"For me, there are no questions marks. For one game he was on the bench and for me, for a player, that is natural, He always tries and gives his best," the Chelsea boss explained on Friday.
"I don't need a reaction from him. I just need him to be what he is and try hard."
That means Costa scoring goals again. He only has three in the Premier League this term, which isn't good enough for a player who netted 20 in 2014/15.
And now the defence is getting back to its best with their recent clean sheet record, logic tells us a more prolific Costa will deliver those much-needed points.
If results go their way this weekend, Chelsea could move up to 13th in the table. It will only make them one place better off than they already are, but progress is progress and that's the sort of positive Mourinho must cling to right now.
Victory over Bournemouth will also pull Chelsea further from the relegation zone.
With a team crammed full of stars, we should expect the Blues not to be involved in a relegation scrap. They do remain dangerously close to the drop zone, however, meaning a few poor results could drag them into the sort of fight they have no desire to be in.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, December 5
Time: 5.30 p.m. GMT/12.30 p.m. ET
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK only)/NBC Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go app (UK only)/NBCSN (U.S. only)
Last 5 games
| Nov. 4 | Chelsea 2-1 Dynamo Kiev |
| Nov. 7 | Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea |
| Nov. 21 | Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City |
| Nov. 24 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0-4 Chelsea |
| Nov. 29 | Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Chelsea |
| Oct. 28 | Liverpool 1-0 Bournemouth |
| Nov. 1 | Southampton 2-0 Bournemouth |
| Nov. 7 | Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle United |
| Nov. 21 | Swansea City 2-2 Bournemouth |
| Nov. 28 | Bournemouth 3-3 Everton |
Predicted lineups
Mourinho confirmed on Friday that Thibaut Courtois is now fit and ready to start for Chelsea and will be in his matchday squad against Bournemouth.
The Chelsea boss did stop short at confirming whether or not Courtois would feature, however.
Chelsea do have some injury concerns ahead of this game still. John Terry and Ramires remain on the sidelines after the injuries they picked up in Israel 10 days ago while Radamel Falcao is also out.
Loic Remy should return after the birth of his child ruled him out against Tottenham last week.
As for the Cherries, their injury list is extensive.
Eddie Howe has no fewer than 10 players on the treatment table right now.
Max Gradel, Tyrone Mings and Callum Wilson are all long-term absentees with knee injuries, while goalkeeper Adam Federici has an ankle injury picked up last week against Everton.
Artur Boruc is also out with a knee problem, meaning Bournemouth will have to rely on 23-year-old stopper Ryan Allsop to keep goal at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Begovic; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Hazard, Pedro; Diego Costa
Bournemouth (4-4-1-1): Allsop; Francis, Cook, Distin, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Gosling, Stanislas; Tomlin; King
Key Players
The key to Chelsea breaking down Bournemouth on Saturday will be the execution of quick counter-attacks to turn their defence and split players.
Bournemouth's style is such that they will leave gaps for Chelsea to exploit. The Blues will only do that effectively if Cesc Fabregas is on form.
The likes of Hazard and Costa rely on the quick attacks Fabregas can create, and the Spaniard must be on form come kick-off on Saturday.
Chelsea impressed against Tottenham last weekend. Had Fabregas' passing been more accurate and decisive, there's every chance we could be talking about a victory rather than a draw.
The champions are gradually moving in the right direction but remain a long way off the top four places. They need to be clawing back those points, and Fabregas is the man who needs to make things happen.
Sylvain Distin
While Bournemouth are known more for what they create going forward rather than defensively, they are going to need to draw on every ounce of experience in their veteran defender on Saturday if they are to take anything from the game.
Unlike most of his team-mates, Sylvain Distin is no stranger to facing the Premier League's big boys, having spent 14 years in English football's top flight.
The Frenchman joined the Cherries from Everton this summer and, as the elder statesmen, would have been briefing Howe's men on what they can expect at Stamford Bridge.
Bournemouth can't afford to wilt when they turn out against the champions. With a player of Distin's capabilities and know-how, their chances will be all the more improved.
Prediction
Chelsea 3-0 Bournemouth
Odds
Home Win: -323
Away Win: +831
Draw: +405
First Goalscorer: Diego Costa (19/5)
Odds via Odds Shark and Oddschecker
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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