Game Week 5 Predictions: Chelsea to beat Bournemouth

Bournemouth will seek to trouble Chelsea when the Blues travel to Bournemouth on Sunday. (Photo credit: BBC)

 Bournemouth vs. Chelsea

Vitality Stadium

2:00pm

Bournemouth is the latest to attempt to heap more misery on Chelsea, with the Blues struggling to find results since the season started four games ago.

Chelsea beat Luton 3-0 before they lost at home to Nottingham Forest. Before the embarrassing loss to Forest, Chelsea had laboured to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool and lost 3-1 at West Ham. Four points out of a possible twelve show big issues for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Bournemouth has only picked two points in four games: the stalemate at home to West Ham and the hard-fought point away to Brentford. It’s not for lack of effort, but the Cherries must learn how to close out games and take their chances when they do.

The Premier League is unforgiving; one moment you’re up there, and the next, you’re struggling down and under. Consistency is the only antidote to failure in the league, and Bournemouth must start picking up points, especially on their own ground.

Chelsea will be able to welcome Armando Broja back soon with the striker back in training, but Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling will be the men to rely on when the Blues travel to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.

Dominic Solanke is in top form, and Chelsea will be wary of their former academy product. Antoine Semenyo and Justin Kluivert are the other men who could trouble the Blues. Neto has been the big force in goal for the Cherries; he would be of great use on Sunday.

Andoni Iraola will be without Tyler Adams, who is struggling with hamstring issues; Alex Scott is due back next month; Emiliano Marcondes is out with ankle issues; and Ryan Fredericks is back in training, but this fixture would come too soon for him.

The injury list at Chelsea would need an extra sheet, but the good news is with Broja and Benoit Badiashile, who are both back in training; however, none of the two is expected to travel to Bournemouth on Sunday.

The hosts will be expressive; they will take the battle to Chelsea, but they must be wary of leaving spaces behind for Enzo Fernandes to exploit. Moises Caicedo hasn’t exactly impressed since joining the Blues; here’s his opportunity.

Verdict: Chelsea to win