Chelsea FC hosts AFC Bournemouth on Saturday in a Premier League fixture that matches two teams desperate for a win right now. Chelsea, losers of three of their last four league fixtures, know that Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are now bearing down on them, trying to snatch away a top four place.
Bournemouth, losers of their last five, realize the danger they have of falling into the relegation zone. The side has a full blown injury crisis on its hands, and it’s only getting worse, not better. Nathan Aké limped out of the loss to Liverpool last weekend with a hamstring injury.
Including him, manager Eddie Howe will be without the services of nine first team players this weekend.
And the bad news doesn’t stop there. David Brooks had a second operation on his ankle, and he’ll be gone another three weeks. This is why so many pundits and experts are high on Howe’s managerial abilities- he’s been able to somehow produce something, in spite of all the injuries.
In turning to the hosts, Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains out indefinitely, while striker Olivier Giroud and defender Fikayo Tomori are both injury doubts having both missed the mid-week win over Lille in European competition.
Chelsea FC vs AFC Bournemouth FYIs
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff: Dec. 14, 3pm Stamford Bridge
Form Guide: Chelsea FC LWLLW AFC Bournemouth LLLLL
?Referee: Graham Scott
Google’s result probability: 77% Chelsea FC win, 15% draw, 8% AFC Bournemouth victory
Prediction: Chelsea FC 3, AFC Bournemouth 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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