Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri could become the sixth manager to win his first four Premier League matches tomorrow when the Blues host AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Three of the five, Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Carlo Ancelotti, accomplished the feat while leading Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola and Craig Shakespeare are the other two, just in case you’re scoring at home. Sarri brings what is basically a fully fit squad to this match-up, so you got to like the Blues’ chances at home here.
Cesc Fabregas still hasn’t fully convalesced from the knee injury that he sustained in pre-season, but even when he’s 100% back to fitness, he’s still unlikely to find himself in the first team, given the wealth of options that Sarri currently has in the midfield.
For the Cherries, Adam Smith (insert your Scottish Enlightenment joke here) is suspended after being sent off against Everton last weekend. Diego Rico returns to availability after having finished serving his three-match ban.
Lys Mousset is out of contention, due to an injured ankle, while Junior Stanislas (knee) and Marc Pugh (hamstring) are also unavailable for this clash.
Although the Blues have definitely looked really good so far on this young season, this won’t be a cake walk. The Cherries have taken seven points out of the first nine possible, and Mark Howe has got to be feeling good about his squad.
Chelsea starting XI prediction/Team News: coming shortly
Kick-off: 3 pm (BST), Saturday 1 Sept
Odds via Betway: Chelsea 30/100, Draw 19/4, Bournemouth 8/1
Prediction: Chelsea FC 2, Bournemouth 0
Feel free to post your own Blues and/or Cherries starting XI predictions, as well as your best guess as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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