Chelsea return to Premier League action at Stamford Bridge against a Bournemouth side yet to register a single victory this season, with both clubs carrying concerns into a fixture that could offer a timely lift — or deepen existing anxieties.

Chelsea's rocky patch

The Xabi Alonso era at Chelsea began with considerable promise, as high-scoring victories against Fulham and Brighton raised expectations. However, the Blues have since faltered, losing at Arsenal and suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat at Brentford, with a 2-2 home draw against Hull City caught between those losses.

Across seven matches in the Premier League and Carabao Cup, Chelsea have been involved in 33 goals — but 15 of those have ended up in their own net, highlighting a defensive fragility that Alonso has had three weeks over the international break to address.

The manager will be hoping to welcome back Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo, both of whom missed their respective international camps through injury. Striker Joao Pedro remains a doubt ahead of the clash.

Bournemouth's difficult start

Marco Rose's side have collected just three points from their opening Premier League matches, though the nature of those results tells a more encouraging story. Bournemouth conceded late on against Manchester City, Everton, and Newcastle United, surrendering leads that might otherwise have produced a healthier points haul.

The Cherries also suffered a blow during the international break, with midfielder Alex Scott ruled out for around a month following an injury sustained while on England duty — a significant setback for Rose as he looks to kickstart his side's league campaign.

There have been bright spots, however. Bournemouth claimed a 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City and announced themselves on the European stage with a 2-1 UEFA Europa League victory at Real Sociedad, the club's first-ever continental fixture.

What to expect

With Chelsea's matches producing goals at a remarkable rate and Bournemouth showing they can compete against top-flight opposition despite struggling to see results through, this fixture has the ingredients of an entertaining, open game.

FourFourTwo predicts a 2-2 draw, with goals at both ends looking the most likely outcome given the form of both sides.