Chelsea face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea Football Newsletter
Chelsea are expected to be without Marc Cucurella when they play Bournemouth in their final game of 2025.
Cucurella suffered what appeared to be a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa and Enzo Maresca will may need to be inventive at left-back.
Malo Gusto came on for Cucurella against Villa and could start there.
Jorrel Hato has been injured and may well miss out again.
Wesley Fofana is expected to come into the team after being rested against Villa.
Benoit Badiashile came in for Fofana, but that change could be reversed against Bournemouth.
Cole Palmer is still awaiting his first full 90 minutes in more than three months after being taken off after 72 minutes against Villa.
Maresca says Palmer is able to play a full game and he was visibly annoyed after being taken off on Saturday, so he may last longer against Bournemouth.
Maresca has the option of using captain Reece James at right-back or in midfield, where he kept Enzo Fernandez out of the team against Newcastle on December 20.
The Chelsea head coach can also choose between Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens on the left wing.
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Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill and Dario Essugo remain long-term absentees for the Blues, who will be bidding to get back to winning ways after their draw at Newcastle and then the defeat to Villa.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Doubts: Cucurella, Hato
Injured: Lavia, Colwill, Essugo
Time and date: 7:30pm GMT on Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Venue: Stamford Bridge
How to watch: Sky Sports