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The magnificent Reece James returns to the Chelsea team for the first time since mid-October, while Denis Zakaria makes his Premier League debut in midfield. Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic, who went the distance at the World Cup, are not included in the squad. All told, Chelsea are without eight first-team players.

Bournemouth are without the impressive Marcus Tavernier, who is injured, so Jack Stacey comes into the side. That probably means a switch to a back five. Lloyd Kelly also returns in place of Jack Stephens.

Chelsea (possible 4-2-3-1) Arrizabalaga; James, Thiago Silva, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Jorginho, Zakaria; Pulisic, Mount, Sterling; Havertz.
Substitutes: Bettinelli, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Humphreys, Gallagher, Hutchinson, Hall, Aubameyang.

Bournemouth (possible 5-2-1-2) Travers; Stacey, Smith, Senesi, Kelly, Zemura; Cook, Lerma; Billing; Solanke, Moore.
Substitutes: Plain, Stephens, Christie, Marcondes, Rothwell, Pearson, Lowe, Anthony, Dembele.

Referee Simon Hooper

Chelsea vs Bournemouth Live Updates

Chelsea 2 – 0 Bournemouth

Kia Havertz – 16

Mason Mount 24

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth | Mason Mount 24′

24 mins: What a strike!

Chelsea again force an overload down their right flank and Bournemouth can’t clear their lines with Blue shirts queuing up inside the box.

Zakaria and Havertz combine to lay it out to Mount, who beats Travers and picks out the bottom corner with a fantastic effort from range.

His first home goal of the season! Chelsea absolutely cruising here.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth | Kai Havertz 16′

16 mins: Chelsea are in front early on here!

Another fine move from Potter’s side, who have found first-half goals very hard to come by this season.

It’s brilliant from Sterling, who puts it on a plate with a fine assist for Havertz to slide in at the back post.

The Blues have lift-off.

Solanke, once of Chelsea, slaloms past two players before being taken out by Thiago Silva. Free-kick to Bournemouth 30 yards from goal

2 min Billing’s free-kick is saved comfortably by Kepa. Chelsea break and Havertz wins the first corner of the game

Bournemouth are playing with a back five, as predicted, though Billing is playing alongside Lerma and Cook in midfield rather than in front of them.

Maybe Jeff Sachs was right: Havertz has just missed a chance, heading over from Cucurella’s deep, floated cross. It wasn’t the easiest opportunity, but he should probably have hit the target.

“I am the lone person in the office today – despite not being a holiday here in the good ol’ USA, everyone else is off,” says Rachel Clifton. “So the MBM is even more of a godsend than usual. And it isn’t Southampton…”

I was surprised to see that they’re bottom of the table. Looks like the best way for a south coast team to avoid relegation is to get tonked 9-0 early in the season.

“Pulisic will dive next time before he gets the shot off – and I certainly won’t blame him,” says Gary Naylor.

I thought he dived then, while also hedging his bets and having a shot. It probably was a foul, though the way he went down may have counted against him. There was an interesting penalty at Arsenal last night after a not-dissimilar incident., but on that occasion, Jarrod Bowen tried to stay on his feet.

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