Graham Potter’s honeymoon period at Chelsea is over and now needs positive results starting with the hosting of Bournemouth.
Chelsea will start this round round of fixtures in eighth in the Premier League having lost each of their last three competitive matches without scoring a single goal. This after going unbeaten in their first nine games under the guidance of Potter.
It’s not been since 1998 that the Blues have lost four in a row.
The Cherries have surged into 14th spot but are still in danger of being dragged into the demotion dogfight. And they do have a good record against the Blues.
Bournemouth are unbeaten in three Premier League games with Chelsea – winning two and drawing one between 2019 and 2020.
The Blues lost forward Armando Broja to a season-ending ACL injury during their friendly with Aston Villa, and he will be one of at least seven guaranteed absentees for the Blues on Tuesday.
Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech and Croatia’s Mateo Kovacic will be given more time to recover after the World Cup, while Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are also in the treatment room.
Mason Mount and Kepa Arrizabalaga could recover from calf and foot problems in time to make the squad.