Bournemouth's first season in the top flight is almost over and victory this weekend against Chelsea would see them draw level on points with last year's champions.

That may not be as glamorous as it sounds given Chelsea's nosedive this season, but the Cherries are all but guaranteed to be playing Premier League football again next season.

Bournemouth

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Eddie Howe would have snapped your hand off if you had offered him 41 points with four games remaining at the start of the season.

It is an impressive achievement from the small south coast outfit, but they could be better off had they not lost three of their last four matches, with a victory against relegated Aston Villa their only points in the last month.

Last weekend they fell 2-1 at the hands of a much-changed Liverpool at home. The Reds were comfortable for much of the contest and Bournemouth's consolation came just before the final whistle from Joshua King.

The Norwegian has scored in four of his last six Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, after netting just two goals in his opening 21 top-flight appearances in 2015-16.

Defeat means that Bournemouth have lost their last two home league matches – they have not lost three in a row in league competition at home since March 2013.

By and large, Bournemouth have done well against fellow bottom-half sides this term. Just three of their 15 league defeats have come against teams in the lower half of the table.

Two of those were in the first month of the season against Villa and Norwich City, with only one of their 12 losses since then against a side currently outside the top nine.

Recent form: WWLLWL

Chelsea

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It has all gone a bit pear-shaped for Chelsea and Guus Hiddink since it was confirmed earlier this month that Antonio Conte would be taking over this summer.

Defeat at Swansea City in their last away game ended Hiddink's unbeaten run as Chelsea boss in the Premier League and also ended a run of seven matches without defeat away from home for the Blues (W5 D2).

Then, last Saturday, they hosted Manchester City and were resoundingly beaten 3-0, with Sergio Aguero netting a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge to leave Chelsea 10th and they are now 10 points behind Liverpool in seventh.

Hiddink said that some of his players' minds were already on Euro 2016, while Brazilian winger Willian has expressed his desire to play in both the Copa America and Olympic Games this summer.

No goals and two defeats in their last two, but Chelsea have conceded just three goals in eight Premier League away games under Hiddink.

Defeat again this weekend would make it the first time since 2000-01 that the Blues have lost both home and away against a newly-promoted side in a single Premier League season (vs. Charlton Athletic).

Recent Premier League form: WDDWLL
Recent form (all competitions): LLDWLL

Team News

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Thibaut Courtois was sent off late on against City, so Asmir Begovic will start between the sticks for Chelsea.

Hiddink could welcome back Eden Hazard from a hip problem and may decide to make changes given the Blues' first losing run in the league since he took over.

Defenders Kurt Zouma and John Terry, along with frontman Loic Remy, are definitely out.

Callum Wilson has come off the bench in Bournemouth's last two matches and could earn his first start since September this weekend.

Lewis Grabban is also pushing for a start up top having replaced Junior Stanislas at half time against Liverpool.

Benik Afobe, Tyrone Mings, Harry Arter, Adam Smith and Tokelo Rantie remain out for the hosts.

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Boruc; Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Gosling, Gradel; King; Grabban

Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Baba; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro; Costa

Head To Head

The reverse in December was one of Jose Mourinho's last games in charge of Chelsea as Bournemouth striker Glenn Murray came off the bench and scored after just 97 seconds to snatch a late victory for the Cherries.

However, the Cherries have failed to score in three of their last five matches against the Blues, netting just three goals in total.

We say: Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea

With both sides now coasting towards the end of the season, there is little to lose and this could be an entertaining contest with the points shared.

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