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Bournemouth and Chelsea, two clubs under fresh management, are poised to clash at the Vitality Stadium, with both eager to rectify recent stumbles. Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth side entered the international break with a 2-2 draw against Brentford, a spirited performance marked by the return of David Brooks, who, after a lengthy absence due to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, netted his first Premier League goal in over a thousand days. Despite Brooks' 77th-minute strike putting them briefly ahead following Dominic Solanke's response to Mathias Jensen's opener, Bournemouth was ultimately forced to settle for a draw, as Bryan Mbeumo equalized in injury time.
Despite the plaudits for Iraola's attacking style, Bournemouth had just two points from their initial four Premier League fixtures, placing them 16th in the standings at this early stage. Their draw with Brentford was commendable, though, considering the challenge that team poses. Few expected them to secure points against Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool, although they did give the latter a run for their money in the early stages. However, their winless streak in the top flight now spans eight games since their 4-1 victory over Leeds United in late April, and they have managed only one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League outings, which was against struggling Southampton.
Most of Chelsea's senior stars were rested during the second round of the EFL Cup against Wimbledon, where the second-string team narrowly scraped through. However, their lackluster performance seemed to have had an impact on the senior players when Nottingham Forest paid a visit to Stamford Bridge. Several months after Forest managed to secure a draw in West London, they broke the deadlock just three minutes into the second half, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Anthony Elanga combining to put Forest in the lead. Thanks to resolute defending and some wayward Chelsea finishing, Forest emerged with a deserved victory, giving manager Mauricio Pochettino a two-week window to analyze yet another underwhelming display.
This season, Chelsea's Premier League record stands at just two wins from 16 games, a dismal showing for a club with their financial resources. However, one of those victories came against Bournemouth in May, extending their winning streak against their South Coast rivals to three matches.
Bournemouth's exciting draw against Brentford occurred too soon for deadline day signing Luis Sinisterra to make his debut, and given his recent international commitments with Colombia, there's a possibility he might not be rushed into the starting XI, especially considering his history of injuries. Similarly, Marcos Senesi and Hamed Traore, also dealing with international commitments, may not feature. Tyler Adams, a former teammate of Sinisterra from his time at Leeds United, is yet to make his first appearance for Bournemouth due to a thigh issue, which might keep him out of this fixture as well. However, Dango Ouattara has recovered from an ankle concern.
On Chelsea's side, injuries have impacted their new signings as well. Both Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia will have to wait for their Chelsea debuts due to injuries, joining a list of long-term absentees that includes Carney Chukwuemeka, Wesley Fofana, and Marcus Bettinelli, all out with knee injuries. Skipper Reece James is nursing a thigh injury, while Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile, also recovering from similar problems, are unlikely to return for this match.
Furthermore, Armando Broja, who had been hoping to make the bench after recovering from a severe knee injury last winter, will have to wait a little longer for his return, as confirmed by Pochettino in a pre-match press conference. The two high-profile midfielders, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, might need some time to regain their form after returning from South America, where they didn't train on Thursday. Nonetheless, they are expected to catch up with the rest of the squad before Sunday's kickoff.
In terms of expectations, Chelsea, after their loss to Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge, will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance against Bournemouth. Given the superior quality of their squad, they are the favorites to win this encounter. However, their Premier League campaign has had a lackluster start with only one win in four matches, putting them in 12th place. For a club of Chelsea's stature, the fans and stakeholders are likely to demand a swift turnaround, and it remains to be seen if manager Mauricio Pochettino can reinvigorate his side.
On the other hand, Bournemouth finds itself in 16th place in the Premier League, yet to secure a league victory. Despite this, they are coming off an unbeaten run in their last two matches across all competitions and will be determined to secure a morale-boosting win at home against an inconsistent Chelsea side.
As for the lineups, Chelsea is expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation, with Robert Sanchez in goal and Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva, and Levi Colwill forming the back three. Malo Gusto and Ben Chilwell will assume the full-back roles, aiming to contribute offensively and defensively. In midfield, Moises Caicedo will likely start as the defensive midfielder, while Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher will provide control and drive. Raheem Sterling is set to lead Chelsea's attacking line alongside Nicolas Jackson.
On the other side, Bournemouth is likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Neto guarding the goal. Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez will serve as full-backs, tasked with containing Chelsea's wingers and supporting the central defenders. In central defense, Illia Zabarnyi will partner with Marcos Senesi. Philip Billing and Joe Rothwell will form the midfield pivot, bringing physicality and defensive coverage. Luis Sinisterra and Antoine Semenyo are expected to take on the winger roles, looking to create counter-attacking opportunities. Finally, Ryan Christie will likely be the central attacking midfielder, with Dominic Solanke leading the line.
In summary, the stage is set for an intriguing clash between these two teams, with Chelsea aiming to bounce back from recent disappointments and Bournemouth looking to secure their first league win of the season. Injuries and recent international commitments will play a role in team selections, adding an element of unpredictability to the encounter. Nonetheless, Chelsea, with their superior squad depth, will carry the burden of expectation to emerge victorious, while Bournemouth will seek to exploit any vulnerabilities and pull off an upset.
