Chelsea vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,384.
Monday 26 December 2016 13:55, UK
Chelsea will have to do without Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante as they pursue a 12th-consecutive Premier League victory when Bournemouth travel to Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.
The league leaders will be without their leading goalscorer and midfield anchor for the visit of the Cherries, with both players serving a one-game ban for their fifth yellow cards of the season in last Saturday's victory at Crystal Palace.
Costa's 13th goal of the season earned the Blues a hard-fought victory at Selhurst Park and moved Antonio Conte's men six points clear at the top of the table after a club record-equalling 11th successive league win.
Chelsea are just two victories away from equalling the Premier League's all-time winning streak record, but Bournemouth left Stamford Bridge with all three points last season.
Eddie Howe's men head to west London looking to extend an impressive Boxing Day record, with the Cherries unbeaten in each of their last six league games played on December 26 (W4 D2 L0), conceding just one goal in the process.
Team news
Chelsea could turn to Michy Batshuayi to replace Costa or switch from the 3-4-3 formation which has underpinned their winning run.
Club captain John Terry remains out with a gluteal strain.
Howe will not be able to play on-loan Chelsea defender Nathan Ake, who is not eligible for selection against his parent club.
However the Cherries could be boosted by the possibel return of midfield duo Junior Stanislas (ankle) and Andrew Surman (hamstring), who have an outside chance of playing.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won five of their previous seven games in all competitions against Bournemouth, losing the other two.
However, the Cherries did beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season 1-0, thanks to a goal from Glenn Murray.
Chelsea haven't lost a league game on Boxing Day since being beaten by Charlton 4-2 in 2003 (W6 D5 L0 since).
If Chelsea win this match, they'll set an outright club top-flight record of 12 successive league wins, beating a run of 11 wins set in September 2009.
The overall top-flight record for consecutive wins is 14; set by Arsenal in between February and August 2002.
Chelsea are top of the Premier League on Christmas Day for the fifth time. They have won the league title on each of the four previous occasions they have topped the Premier League at Christmas (2014-15, 2009-10, 2005-06 and 2004-05).
Diego Costa will be missing this game through suspension. The Spaniard has had a hand in 18 of Chelsea's 35 Premier League goals this season (51 per cent - 13 goals, 5 assists).
Merson's prediction
If there were two players Chelsea would least like to play without, it would be Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante. That's what they're faced with against Bournemouth, but I still think they will be too strong. You're never too sure about Bournemouth: one minute they're getting slaughtered by Southampton at home and then before that they beat Liverpool and Leicester. Costa and Kante will be missed but Chelsea have picked up the habit of winning games.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 13/2)
Betting
Leaders Chelsea are 4/11 to keep their winning run going against Bournemouth on Boxing Day, with the Cherries 2/1 to end it with a win or a draw. It's 15/2 for Bournemouth to take all three points. Chelsea are 11/4 to win by exactly one goal, and 9/4 to win by three or more. In the absence of Diego Costa, Michy Batshuayi is 100/30 to score the first goal, with Eden Hazard 7/2 and Pedro 9/2. Callum Wilson is rated the visitors' biggest threat at 11/1.
