Chelsea vs Bournemouth live: What time does it start, what TV channel is it on, where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea have the chance to restore their nine-point lead over the rest of the Premier League when they take on Bournemouth on Boxing Day at Stamford Bridge, with Manchester City not playing until the evening kick-off and Liverpool in action on Tuesday night. Antonio Conte's side are on an impressive 11-match winning streak in the league, but face their toughest test yet as both Diego Costa and N'Golo Kante are ruled out of today's match through suspension. Bournemouth meanwhile sit tenth in the Premier League table and can move ahead of both West Bromwich Albion and Everton if they secure a surprise victory.
Follow the live action below...
It’s a big game for…
Marcos Alonso: The marauding wing-back has impressed many since arriving at Chelsea from Fiorentina and is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment.
Best stat…
51: Diego Costa has been involved in 51 per cent of Chelsea’s goals this season, but he’ll be missing on Boxing Day through suspension.
Remember when…
Last season, Glenn Murray’s late header piled misery on Jose Mourinho’s beleaguered Chelsea.
Player to watch…
Michy Batshuayi: It remains to be seen whether, in Costa’s absence, Chelsea’s only other recognised striker will make his first Premier League start of the season.
Antonio Conte suggested that Batshuayi is not yet ‘ready’ for the rigours of the Premier League. So, if he does not play, who will lead the line in his place?
Past three-meetings…
Bournemouth 1 (Elphick) Chelsea 4 (Pedro, Hazard 2, Willian)
Premier League, April 2016
Chelsea 0 Bournemouth 1 (Murray)
Premier League, December 2015
Bournemouth 0 Chelsea 1 (Peacock)
League Cup, October 1994
Form guide…
Chelsea: WWWWW
Bournemouth: LWLWL
Vital information…
Kick-off time: 3.00pm
TV: Highlights on BBC One, 10.55pm
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Boxing Day Premier League action, with eight games set to kick-off a busy festive schedule. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all feature today, while Sam Allardyce makes his Premier League return with Crystal Palace after replacing Alan Pardew on Friday night, with the Eagles taking on Watford in the opening game of the day.
With everyone still in the Christmas spirit, sit back and relax as we bring you all the goals as they go in.
TEAM NEWS: Watford have made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last weekend. Captain Troy Deeney and Juan Zuniga are omitted from the starting XI for Odion Ighalo and Daryl Janmaat as Walter Mazzarri looks to bounce back from consecutive league defeats.
Sam Allardyce has marked his first game in the Palace dugout with two alterations to the side that lost 1-0 to league leaders, Chelsea, last weekend. In an attacking line-up, Allardyce has opted for Andros Townsend and Mathieu Flamini over regular starters James McArthur and Joe Ledley.
STAT: Crystal Palace haven't kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since Boxing Day last year in a 0-0 draw against Bournemouth. Big Sam's introduction couldn't have come sooner.
No Troy Deeney? Watford scored three goals against Palace in the Premier League and the FA Cup last season and they all came from their skipper. Deeney scored Watford's equaliser during their 2-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat at Wembley in May and a brace to secure a 2-1 win over the Eagles at Selhurst Park earlier last season. Massive call to leave him out of the game today.
KEY MAN: Christian Benteke. The Belgium striker is beginning to come into his own at Palace after failing to impress during his short stay at Liverpool. After scoring six goals in his last seven away games for the Eagles, Benteke is proving to be an impressive outlet for Palace away from Selhurst Park and will be a big threat again at Vicarage Road.
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