BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson has stated his prediction for the forthcoming Premier League clash between Chelsea FC and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have stuttered in the Premier League with one win and three defeats in the past four matches but they come against a Bournemouth side, who have been on a free fall.
The South Coast outfit are without several key players through injuries including Nathan Ake, Callum Wilson and David Brooks and they have a tough task of overturning their run of five league defeats on the bounce.
Speaking on BBC Sport, Lawrenson has predicted a comfortable 2-0 win for the west London giants and believes they are in a much better shape after the morale-boosting win over Lille, which sealed the club’s progress to the next round of the Champions League.
“There will be a spring in everyone’s step in the Blues squad after they secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League this week, and Lampard has got good competition for places in his squad,” he told.
“Scoring goals does not seem to be a problem for them either and although they have had the occasional blip – like last week’s defeat at Everton – I think Chelsea are in decent shape right now.”
The Blues have struggled to keep regular clean sheets in the Premier League this term and they have managed just three shutouts as they approach the midway stage of the campaign.
The return of Antonio Rudiger should improve their defensive record in the forthcoming weeks where the Blues have tougher assignments against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
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