Chelsea chase an unlikely fifth-placed finish at home to Bournemouth on the final day of 2023-24 Premier League season.
Victory would see Chelsea finish fifth only if Tottenham lose at Sheffield United, although Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues can finish seventh on goal difference if they lose and Newcastle win at Brentford.
Bournemouth meanwhile can finish tenth if they better Brighton’s result elsewhere.
Team News
Reece James is suspended for Chelsea’s next four matches after he received his second red card of the season in a 2-1 win at Brighton in midweek.
Mykhailo Mudryk (concussion) is ruled out but Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) could return.
Robert Sanchez (illness), Enzo Fernandez (groin), Wesley Fofana (ACL) and Romeo Lavia (thigh) remain ruled out.
Bournemouth will welcome Milos Kerkez back from a three-match suspension.
Romain Faivre (ankle) and Chris Mepham (illness) and Luis Sinisterra (hamstring) could return but Ryan Fredericks (calf) remains absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 19 May at 4pm BST, live on Sky Sports Football (SSF), although Sky Sports Arena will simulcast the match in case coverage of the League 2 Play-Off Final overruns on SSF.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea are unbeaten in four of their last six league meetings against Bournemouth (W2, D2, L2).
- Bournemouth have won three of their six previous Premier League visits to Chelsea (W3, L3).
- Chelsea have never won consecutive league matches at home to Bournemouth.
- Nine of Chelsea’s last 13 goals at home have been scored between Cole Palmer (5) and Nicolas Jackson (4).
- Bournemouth have won one of their six league visits to London-based clubs this season (W1, D2, L3).
Prediction
Sat sixth with a prospect of finishing fifth if they win and Tottenham slip up but aware that defeat could potentially hand Newcastle sixth, Chelsea just have to play their usual game and get a win for themselves irrespective of other results.
Bournemouth meanwhile will feel hard done by to not get a draw at minimum against Brentford in an entertaining match, where late defensive marking errors proved costly for the Cherries but they have no pressure here so I do expect them to cause some issues.
Chelsea though are peaking at the right time now and with their attack finally beginning to find their absolute top groove, I can’t see Bournemouth getting a result here but their defence should certainly cause some frustration if can dig in resiliently.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth
Result: Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
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