Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth LIVE: Premier League latest score, goals and updates from fixture

12/27/2022

Follow live coverage as Chelsea face Bournemouth in the Premier League today.

Reece James returned to the Chelsea team for the visit of the Cherries. The England full-back suffered a knee injury in October which ruled him out of the World Cup but he is now fit and raring to go for the second half of the campaign

Fellow England international Raheem Sterling was also in Graham Potter’s starting line-up, along with Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz, while Kepa Arrizabalaga was preferred to Eduoard Mendy between the posts.

Jefferson Lerma returned from a knee injury for Bournemouth, who started the combination of Dominic Solanke and Kieffer Moore up front.

Follow all the action with our live blog below:

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

SAVE! Into four minutes here at the end of the first half and Chelsea are on the attack again. Mount sweeps it out to the right and James pushes his way past Zemura before taking on the shot, but Travers denies him.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

NO GOAL! Silva’s poor clearance is taken off Billing in the box and Chelsea break quickly on the counter. Havertz tugs Smith down to reach it before Pulisic whips a lovely shot into the net, but the whistle had already gone for a foul against the German.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

It’s better from Bournemouth here as Lerma spins before swinging a corner into the box from deep on the right. Solanke is back tracking, but again, it’s Silva that gets there first.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Bournemouth go for a more direct approach this time, with Travers going long to Moore. He helps it onto Billing, but Solanke is then blocked off by Silva.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Chelsea are still on the front foot here as Pulisic looks to break on the counter again. This time, he’s stopped by Smith and the hosts look for a more patient build-up.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Sterling has been directly involved in 12 goals in 10 Premier League games against Bournemouth (nine goals, three assists); only against West Ham does he have more goals and assists in the competitions (14).

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Cucurella’s clearance is cut out by Cook and Bournemouth try to take advantage. Smith picks out Stacey down the right, but his cross is blocked by the Spaniard, who recovered well.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

The link-up between Sterling and James is causing Bournemouth a lot of problems down the right, as the defender makes the overlapping run again. His cross is just too high though, and Smith gets it away.

Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth

Pulisic was breaking on the counter and Cook rushed back to stop him. They both get hurt in the challenge and need treatment, but they’ll be able to carry on.

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