AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

AFC Bournemouth vs Chelsea FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Chelsea’s abject season sunk to a new low this week, after their most recent humiliation against London rival Arsenal.

Frank Lampard was brought in to steady the ship at his former club, but matters have gone from bad to worse for a club used to fighting it out for trophies and a top four spot.

It’s also served to further damage Lampard’s own reputation, and you can’t imagine him getting another Premier League position after this. They badly need to end their losing run.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, are flying under Gary O’Neil and have well and truly left relegation struggles behind them this season, with a nine-point gap opened up to 18th.

The Cherries could even go above Chelsea with victory here, with the clubs locked on 39 points, although their opponents have played a game fewer.

TEAMS PREVIEW

AFC Bournemouth Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Won a healthy four of their last 11 league meetings with Chelsea

     Four wins from last five have taken relegation off the table

Reasons to be fearful:

     No home clean sheet from their last four

     Chelsea will end losing form at some point

Bournemouth continue their remarkable season under Gary O’Neil, achieving what many football fans would have thought impossible at the start of the season.

The club were left reeling after Scott Parker was sacked, and they have sat at the bottom of the table as recently as 4th March, but they have recovered brilliantly on multiple occasions.

They have five wins from their past seven in the league, propelling them to a position that will now keep them in the league for another year.

The club also has a healthy record against their opponents this weekend, winning four of their last 11. Three of those have come at Stamford Bridge, however.

A win here would be a phenomenal result for the Cherries, if they can continue their brilliant form.

Star Man – Dominic Solanke 

Solanke will be motivated to perform well against his former side and is in the form to do so. He has been involved in six goals in his last seven appearances.

Chelsea FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Second-half performance against Arsenal showed some fight

     Could have success by rotating teams

Reasons to be fearful

     Another defeat would be their seventh in a row – a joint-club record

     Lampard has lost his last 10 games as manager

There was another gutless, emotionless display from Chelsea earlier this week, turning in another poor performance as they were humbled by Arsenal.

While their second half performance showed some grit and determination previously unseen, scoring only their second goal in eight games, it wasn’t anywhere near good enough.

Lampard has a real challenge on his hands here, to ensure that the Blues don’t end this season crawling towards disaster.

He would be better served, in the final five games of the season, by letting the shackles off and allowing some the club’s younger players to have more game time.

One thing for certain is that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sterling have lost their way since their respective transfers to the Blues.

Star Man – Noni Madueke

At 21, Madueke represents what should be the future of this football club, alongside the other youngsters brought in this season. His goal against Arsenal was their only shining light of late.