Premier League preview and odds: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Published on: 24/12/2016

Premier League preview and odds: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

December 26, 2016 15:00pm - Stamford Bridge

Referee: M. Jones

Premier League

League leaders Chelsea will look to extend their winning run to 12 games when they take on plucky second-termers AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Blues six points clear at Christmas

Chelsea enter the Christmas period as clear title favourites, having opened up a six-point gap over closest rivals Liverpool. The Londoners have won their last 11 games in a row and have only conceded two goals in that period.

Despite their current dominance, the Blues will go into this without their biggest goal threat, Diego Costa and their midfield maestro, NGolo Kante, who are both serving one-match bans. This will at least give their rivals a glimmer of hope.

The absence of the influential duo will provide a great teat for Antonio Conte`s men who will be keen to open up a nine-point gap over Liverpool who don`t play until Tuesday night. Last time out, Conte`s charges edged to a 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace to record their third-straight single goal victory in the league.

Meanwhile, opponents Bournemouth will hope to pull off a Boxing Day shock as they continue their quest for a top 10 finish. The Cherries have only one once on the road this term and have lost three of their last four away games.

Eddie Howe`s men come into this game on the back of a 1-3 home defeat to Southampton that left them in 10th place in the table, seven point clear of the drop zone.

Team news

The home side will be hindered by the double suspension of N`Golo Kante and Diego Costa, while the injured pair of John Terry and Marco van Ginkel will also miss out.

Meanwhile, the visitors will have to cope without the services of Junior Stanislas (ankle), Andrew Surman (hamstring) and Lewis Cook (ankle).

Recent form (League):

Chelsea: WWWWW

AFC Bournemouth: LWLWL

Betting odds and tips

Chelsea will be massive favourites for this game but will be without two of their most important players. While they should still have enough to edge this game, the odds on Bournemouth getting a result are too tempting to turn down. Therefore, a speculative punt on the Double Chance is our choice for this game.

You can back Bournemouth/Draw Double Chance at a best price of 11/5 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 24/12/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (24/12/2016 11:04:20) but are subject to change.