James Returns to Midfield as Chelsea Gear Up for Bournemouth Clash
Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge for their Premier League encounter on Tuesday evening as both clubs conclude their fixtures for the calendar year.
Both teams arrive in poor form.
The Blues have managed only one victory in their previous five league outings, recently suffering a 2–1 loss to a resurgent Aston Villa side. Bournemouth's difficulties have been more severe, with the Cherries failing to secure a league victory since late October's 2–0 triumph over Nottingham Forest.
Given this season's scheduling peculiarities, these teams have already faced each other in Premier League action this month, producing a tedious 0–0 stalemate at the Vitality Stadium. Neither side will desire a repeat performance, especially Chelsea, who urgently need to stabilize their campaign and reestablish their position in the top-four battle after a concerning sequence of results has already derailed their championship ambitions.
Considering these circumstances, here's how the Blues might set up against Bournemouth on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Aston Villa (4-2-3-1)
GK: Robert Sánchez—Escaped a potential dismissal in the Villa defeat after handling the ball outside his penalty area, though he delivered several outstanding stops otherwise. The Spanish keeper appears significantly improved from last campaign, despite the defensive unit ahead of him remaining problematic.
RB: Malo Gusto—Chelsea typically display greater equilibrium and achieve better outcomes when Gusto occupies the right-back position while Reece James operates in midfield. Omitted from the Villa starting eleven, anticipate the French defender's return against Bournemouth.
CB: Wesley Fofana—The French centre-back has shown inconsistency this campaign, yet at his peak represents Chelsea's premier central defender and remains superior to Benoît Badiashile nonetheless.
CB: Trevor Chalobah—Following what appeared to be the conclusion of his Chelsea tenure last season, Chalobah has regained favor and, primarily due to Levi Colwill's extended absence and limited alternatives, now features prominently in team selections.
LB: Jorrel Hato—With Marc Cucurella withdrawn against Villa due to hamstring concerns, an opportunity may arise for Jorrel Hato to immediately return to the lineup. While an surprising selection, injuries might leave Enzo Maresca with few options.
DM: Moisés Caicedo—Chelsea's standout performer this season by considerable margin, the Ecuadorian midfielder will be vital in disrupting Bournemouth's rapid counter-attacking moves before they develop.
DM: Reece James—As noted regarding Malo Gusto, Chelsea appear more balanced with the Frenchman at right-back and James functioning in midfield. With this arrangement, the Blues maintain their unbeaten Premier League record this season.
RW: Cole Palmer—Recently returned from injury and still Chelsea's primary creative outlet, Palmer starts automatically. However, with Enzo Fernández excelling centrally, the England midfielder could relocate to the right flank, operating as an inverted winger capable of creating havoc when cutting inward.
AM: Enzo Fernández—The Argentine performs optimally when positioned ahead of Caicedo rather than sitting deeper, utilizing his vision and movement to break down defensive structures. Fernández has already scored four goals this season and remains a persistent attacking threat.
LW: Pedro Neto—Though not naturally left-footed, his explosive speed makes him a continuous danger cutting in from the left flank. Expect him to challenge Bournemouth's experienced captain Adam Smith throughout the match.
ST: João Pedro—Back-to-back strikes against Newcastle United and Aston Villa demonstrate the Brazilian is discovering the clinical edge to complement his superb link-up play. An assured starter.
