As much as I appreciate FIFA combining the first two international breaks of the season into one long international break, three weeks without club football in the middle of the season is entirely far too long. But we’re finally back, and hopefully back to something better than where we left off.
Chelsea headed into the break on the back of a three-match winless run in the Premier League, sandwiching a disappointing 2-2 draw at home against Hull City with defeats against Arsenal and Brentford. This
run of results has snapped us back to reality and has quickly ended Xabi Alonso’s honeymoon period.
The new manager has been hard at work during the break; can we translate that into better performances when it counts?
Date / Time: Saturday, October 10, 15.00 BST; 10am EDT; 7:30pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Referee: Sam Barrott (on pitch); John Brooks (VAR)
Forecast: Partly sunny, breezy
On TV: none (UK); NBCSN (USA); Star Sports Select HD1 (India); SuperSport Premier League, Canal+ Sport 4 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: none (UK); Peacock (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Chelsea team news: Alonso came bearing some wonderful news in his pre-match press conference, declaring Moisés Caicedo, João Pedro, Cole Palmer, and Reece James all “ready to go”.
JP and Reece both missed the last game before the break while Palmer struggled through it despite his groin issue from last year flaring up again. All three were held out of international duty as a result, but thankfully they look to have used that break well. Caicedo meanwhile has made just one appearance all season, that a failed comeback attempt against Brighton & Hove Albion that lasted just 14 minutes. Hopefully he’s truly good to go now. Alonso also confirmed that Marco Palestra has been back to full training during the break, so our key summer signing at wing-back is hopefully ready to make his debut now as well. He’d been out since the preseason.
It wasn’t all good news from Alonso however, with Jamie Gittens confirmed out with the ankle injury he picked up while playing for the England U21’s, while Emmanuel Emegha’s status remains a mystery. Then again, with all due respect, those injuries are quite a bit less impactful than the aforementioned quintet.
Bournemouth team news: The Cherries finished an impressive sixth last season, a club record, but things have not gone as well so far this season. Manager Andoni Iraola took the job at Liverpool and his replacement, Marco Rose, has yet to win a Premier League game in five tries — despite a largely unchanged squad.
An injury to key midfielder (and Chelsea transfer target) Alex Scott isn’t going to help things, with the 23-year-old expected to miss 4-5 weeks after picking up the injury in England’s 7-0 win over Croatia during the break. Scott played despite feeling some “discomfort” though Rose graciously absolved Thomas Tuchel and England of any responsibility. He’s a better man than I.
Joining Scott on the sidelines are Eli Kroupi, Julián Araujo, Justin Kluivert, and Amine Adli. Winger David Brooks has been passed fit after picking up an injury on international duty with Wales.
Previously: Chelsea are unbeaten in nine straight against Bournemouth, though the last three meetings have all ended in draws.
