Bournemouth v Chelsea preview: Bournemouth and Chelsea both seek chance to climb league table

Bournemouth head into this encounter with their confidence sky-high. Andoni Iraola’s men are fresh off a remarkable 3-2 victory over Everton, where they turned a 2-0 deficit into a last-gasp triumph. Goals in the 87th, 92nd, and 94th minutes showcased their never-say-die attitude, snatching all three points in a dramatic away win at Goodison Park just before the international break. The Cherries’ resilience has been their hallmark so far this season, with their ability to grind out results even when the odds seem stacked against them. Unbeaten after three matches (one win, two draws), Bournemouth’s early form has made them one of the surprise packages of the season. The upcoming clash against Chelsea presents a stern test, but with the Vitality Stadium faithful behind them, Bournemouth will believe they can exploit Chelsea’s inconsistency and continue their unbeaten run.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have endured a stop-start beginning to the season. A commanding 6-2 demolition of Wolves at Molineux, where Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer ran riot, was followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge against a resolute Crystal Palace. Madueke and Palmer’s devastating link-up play saw Palmer assisting all three of Madueke’s goals and scoring a sublime chip from outside the box against Wolves, but injuries and inconsistency have halted their momentum. Palmer’s recent groin injury has ruled him out of England’s squad and casts doubt over his availability for this weekend’s fixture. In addition, Chelsea will be without key defender Reece James, and with Malo Gusto being assessed for a hamstring issue, Maresca’s options at right-back are looking thin. Still, Chelsea’s incredibly deep squad – which has been the talk of the summer transfer window – should offer solutions, though their form on the road will be crucial as they aim to get back to winning ways.

The history between these two sides leans heavily in Chelsea’s favor. The Blues have won four of their last five encounters with Bournemouth, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent meeting. Despite this, the Cherries will be buoyed by their strong start to the campaign and their dramatic win at Everton, determined to rewrite the narrative against their London rivals.

Though Chelsea’s superior head-to-head record and squad depth make them favorites, Bournemouth’s current form suggests this could be a tighter affair than many expect. With both teams boasting attacking firepower—Chelsea having netted seven times already this season, and Bournemouth scoring five—the chances of both teams finding the back of the net seem high. The Cherries, riding the wave of their Everton heroics, will be out to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm.

Despite Bournemouth’s impressive start, Chelsea’s quality should shine through if they can find some consistency. Maresca’s men have shown flashes of brilliance, and if players like Madueke can replicate their performances from the Wolves thrashing, the Blues are well-positioned to leave the Vitality with all three points. However, this is highly dependent on Palmer’s availability. At this stage we would therefore advise to opt for a double chance bet Chelsea win OR draw with odds of 1/3 at Boylesports, one of the best UK bookies in our ranking. Keep in mind that if Chelsea take the lead against Bournemouth, Boylesports also offers early payouts. You don’t want to suffer the fate of Everton fans backing their team to get the W.