Bournemouth look to continue unbeaten start to Premier League season vs Chelsea

Bournemouth will host Chelsea tonight aiming to keep up their unbeaten start to the season, live on talkSPORT. 

The Cherries have begun the new campaign in encouraging form, following up draws against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle with a win over Everton. 

They claimed victory in incredible fashion too, as they came from 2-0 down in the 87th minute to win thanks to a last-gasp winner from Luis Sinisterra. 

Andoni Iraola’s side will now want to back that up, but they face Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea who are starting to click in the Italian’s system. 

After an opening day loss to Manchester City, a 6-2 win and a draw have followed and as each game goes by, the Blues seem to be settling. 

One defeat could potentially halt their progress though, so Maresca will be desperate to put a run together and build some confidence in his huge squad. 

Bournemouth vs Chelsea: Stars of the show 

Antoine Semenyo is stepping up for Bournemouth following Dominic Solanke’s departure to Tottenham during the summer window. 

Semenyo has had more shots than any other player in the Premier League this campaign with 17 in only three games. 

With four chances created too, he has been involved in 21 attempts in total which can only be bettered by Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne. 

At Chelsea, there’s no surprise that Cole Palmer has been flying again.

Palmer has the most assists in the top-flight so far with four while also creating the most big chances in the league after three games.

He has been involved in a goal every 76 minutes since joining the Blues, scoring 23 and assisting 15 in 36 Premier League matches.

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• Chelsea have lost just one of their seven Premier League away games against Bournemouth (W4 D2), with three of their four defeats in the competition against the Cherries coming at Stamford Bridge.
• Bournemouth are winless in five Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D2 L3), having won three of their previous four against the Blues prior to this (L1).

Bournemouth vs Chelsea: Team news 

Kepa will not be able to play for Bournemouth as he is on loan from Chelsea. 

It means Mark Travers is set to replace him for the game in what could be the only change that Iraola makes following the win over Everton. 

Evanilson is yet to score after signing this summer but he is the only fit striker with Enes Unal out along with Tyler Adams. 

As for Chelsea, Palmer pulled out of the England squad during the international break, but he’s not expected to miss any league fixtures. 

Reece James has served his suspension and is now just waiting to recover from his latest issue that is likely to keep him out of this game. 

There are also concerns over Malo Gusto who has suffered a muscle injury and looks set to have a short spell on the sidelines, meaning Axel Disasi is likely to fill in at right-back.

Romeo Lavia missed the last two games with a hamstring problem, however, he may be fit enough to make a return on the South Coast. 

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• Chelsea have won each of their last three Premier League away games, last having a longer run between February and April 2022 (4).
• Bournemouth are unbeaten in all three of their Premier League games so far this season (W1 D2) – they’ve never gone four without defeat from the start of a campaign in the competition before.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea: What has been said? 

Speaking during the international break, Noni Madueke insisted that the negativity surrounding Chelsea is ‘exaggerated’ outside the club. 

Madueke, who earned his first senior England call-up last week, told talkSPORT: “Of course, what you guys see on the outside is slightly exaggerated. 

“Of course, in the building, it’s a great place to be, to be around. But of course, there’s a lot of things going on with all the signings, the turnover and stuff. 

“But as a football player, your job is to perform on the pitch. 

“You can’t be looking at all the outside stuff, you have to zone in, try and play your best football when you’re called upon. 

“That’s what I try and do.”

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• Both Bournemouth and Chelsea have scored a joint league-high four second half goals in the Premier League this season. All four of Bournemouth’s have been in the final five minutes of games (86th minute onwards), while all four of Chelsea’s came in their only away game so far against Wolves.
• Chelsea have conceded at least once in each of their last 17 Premier League away games, shipping 36 goals in total in this run. Only once have they had a longer run without a clean sheet on the road in the competition, going 24 games between January 1993 and February 1994.

Bournemouth vs Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage 

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, September 14. 

Kick-off at the Vitality Stadium is scheduled for 8pm. 

talkSPORT will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Faye Carruthers. 

Commentary will come from Joe Shennan and former Chelsea defender Scott Minto. 

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

Listen via the talkSPORT app here, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM

The game will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.