Chelsea will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League after their disappointing loss to Everton last Saturday when they host an injury-hit Bournemouth outfit at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea is fourth in the league table, three points behind Manchester City in third. Having lost their last league game 3-1 against Everton at Goodison Park, the Blues bounced back as they won 2-1 against Lille in the UEFA Champions League. And manager Frank Lampard will be hoping that his side builds on that display and bag a win on Saturday to cut down the gap to third place.
Bournemouth, on the other hand, finds themselves perilously close to the relegation zone having lost each of their previous five matches in the league.
Rudiger made his long-awaited return from injury in midweek and he came through that unscathed but he is unlikely to start this one with Lampard keen to ease his return after his injury-stricken start to the season. With Fikayo Tomori, who yesterday signed a new contract, still missing with a hip injury, Andreas Christensen will step in alongside Zouma, should Rudiger not be ready.
Reece James, who was benched for the midweek game, is in line to return at right-back, with Emerson Palmieri continuing at left-back in order to afford captain Cesar Azpilicueta some rest.
Mateo Kovacic who has been a regular fixture in the side may be given a rest by Lampard which will mean that Jorginho and Kante will start at the base of the midfield with Mason Mount operating further forward in the number 10 role.
Given the poor run of form that Bournemouth is in, Lampard might look to hand academy product Callum Hudson-Odoi a starting berth benching Christian Pulisic. Willian ought to continue on the right flank while Tammy Abraham should once again form the focal point of the Chelsea attack.
Bournemouth has a number of injury issues as manager Eddie Howe could be without as many as nine first-team players for the trip to Chelsea. Former Blues’ defender Nathan Ake who has been linked with a return to Chelsea is the latest to succumb to an injury for the Cherries, who were already without Steve Cook, Adam Smith, Charlie Daniels, David Brooks, and Junior Stanislas.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kepa; James, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho; Willian, Mount, Hudson-Odoi; Abraham
