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 today.
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.
