Current league leaders Chelsea FC (14-2-1, 43 points) will look to extend its 11-game winning streak as the team hosts mercurial squad AFC Bournemouth (6-8-3, 21 points) in a 2016-2017 Premier League season match at their home field of Stamford Bridge on Dec. 26, Monday.
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Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 10:00 a.m. ET. It can be viewed live
Chelsea has been undefeated since late September when they were blanked by Arsenal, 0-2, at the Emirates Stadium. The team is now at the top of the English top flight table, six points ahead of closest pursuer Liverpool FC.
The Blues are coming off a close 1-0 win over lowly squad Crystal Palace on the road at the Selhurst Park last Saturday, as per Goal.
Spanish striker Diego Costa provided the winning goal of the contest for head coach Antonio Conte’s squad with a 43rd-minute header over Palace captain Scott Dann off an assist from compatriot Cesar Azpilicueta.
The win was also the third consecutive clean sheet for Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as Chelsea boasts off the stingiest defense in the Premier League by far this season.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth was romped by middling team Southampton, 1-3, at their own home ground of Vitality Stadium last Sunday, Daily Mail Online reported.
The Cherries opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match with a header by Dutch defender Nathan Ake from a cross by English midfielder Jack Wilshere.
However, the Saints quickly leveled the score eight minutes later with a goal by English defender Ryan Bertrand, who dribbled past two defenders to beat Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
The visitors then netted two more goals in the second half, courtesy of a brace by English forward Jay Rodriguez in the 48th and 85th minutes, to complete the comeback victory and hand head coach Eddie Howe’ team their third loss in their last five games.
Bournemouth is now 10th in the overall standings, eight points below the Europa League qualifying berth for next season presently held by fifth-ranked Tottenham Hotspur.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-0 rout by Chelsea.
Chelsea starting lineup (3-4-3 formation): Courtois; Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Alonso, Matic, Kanté, Moses; Hazard, Willian, Costa
Bournemouth starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Boruc; Daniels, Ake, Francis, Cook; Pugh, King; Wilshere, Smith, Arter; Wilson
