Chelsea will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they travel to the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The visitors suffered a chastening 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last time out in the league and an inconsistent run, coupled with Man United’s superb winning streak, has left the Blues only three points clear of Arsenal and United in fourth and clinging nervously to the final Champions League spot.
Fresh from his loan move, Gonzalo Higuain made his debut in Chelsea’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday and manager Maurizio Sarri will be hoping the Argentine can hit the ground running to fire the Blues back into the Champions League next season. Follow it live:
Michael will be here shortly with all the build-up and team news ahead of tonight's games. In the meantime here is the latest from the transfer window as the deadline nears:
We've got four Premier League games in action tonight. First up for a 7.45pm kick off Chelsea travel to Bournemouth and Southampton host Crystal Palace.
Then at 8pm Liverpool look to extend their lead at the top of the table as they face Leicester and Tottenham welcome Watford.
Bournemouth make two changes to the side that defeated West Ham in their last match. Andrew Surman comes back to captain the Cherries and Junior Stanislas also returns.
Callum Wilson and Jefferson Lerma both drop out of the squad.
Chelsea make seven changes from the side that beat Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Pedro, David Luiz and Emerson all return while Higuain makes his Premier League debut.
Virgil van Dijk recovers from illness to make the starting line up for Liverpool. Xherdan Shaqiri and Georginio Wijnaldum come into the side as James Milner and Fabinho drop out.
Leicester make three changes as Jonny Evans, James Maddison and Marc Albrighton come back. Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan and Harvey Barnes miss out.
Chelsea recover and get the ball into the box from the wing aiming for Higuain. The ball goes past him but finds Kovacic who hits the crossbar with a strong header.
Wilfried Zaha wins a free kick for Palace but the teams look content to battle it out in mid-field with little action in the final third at either end of the pitch.
As I typed that, Luka Milivojevic gets the ball off Andros Townsend and lines up a right footed shot from outside the box. There's a moment of suspense but the ball sails over the bar as the attempt is too high.
The match will not be shown live in the UK. Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.45pm on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Nathan Ake: The Dutch Bournemouth centre-back faces his former club amid rumours that Chelsea are looking to re-sign the defender after an impressive spell at the south coast club.
Best stat…
0: There has never been a draw in any previous meeting between the two sides in all competitions spanning 14 fixtures.
Remember when…
Eden Hazard scored a dramatic late winner for Chelsea against Bournemouth earlier this season in their Carabao Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge.
Player to watch…
Kepa Arrizabalaga: The world’s most expensive goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant penalty save in his side’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg success and the Spaniard has quietly impressed this season with his shot stopping as well as his maturity in net.
Kepa has been in impressive form for Chelsea (Getty Images)
Past three-meetings…
Chelsea 1 (Hazard) Bournemouth 0, Carabao Cup, December 2018
Chelsea 2 (Pedro, Hazard) Bournemouth 0, Premier League, September 2018
Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 3 (Wilson, Stanislas, Ake), Premier League, January 2018
