Chelsea have conceded 12 goals in the Premier League, more than any other team so far this season. Bournemouth pose a real threat, meaning the defensive vulnerabilities could be exposed again on Saturday.
In contrast, Chelsea’s attacking play has looked promising, propelled by a forward trio of Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Joao Pedro. Pedro was unavailable for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium due to injury, but the other attackers have consistently troubled defenses in recent outings. Despite a goalless result against Brentford, Chelsea’s frontline has been effective in most games.
The Blues have also been effective from distance. Recent analyses show Chelsea rank among the league leaders for long-range shooting accuracy, with a rate around 28% and a couple of goals coming from outside the box. This has helped Chelsea outperform their expected goals (xG), which sit at 7.3, according to available league data, with Alonso’s side already netting 10 times across five matches.
However, relying on long-range strikes is not sustainable. Palmer and Rogers cannot be expected to score from distance in every match, so improving defensive solidity remains essential if Chelsea want to win more consistently and avoid “winning ugly.”
There are some injury concerns ahead of the Bournemouth game, but Palmer is expected to be available after missing recent England duty due to load management. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will be without midfielder Alex Scott, a player Chelsea have monitored and targeted in the transfer market in years past, after he sustained an injury while with the national team.
