Follow live coverage as Chelsea face AFC Bournemouth today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Chelsea FC - AFC Bournemouth
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:20Chelsea's injury list at the worst of times is nothing compared to the situation Bournemouth find themselves in with eight first-team players injured and Kepa Arrizabalaga unable to play against his parent club. It has resulted in an extremely youthful bench with Kluivert by far the most experienced, followed by Jebbison who had to be recalled from Watford after Evanilson and Enes Unal's injuries. He didn't score during his loan spell in Hertfordshire, but will likely be given an opportunity tonight to show if he can help Andoni Iraola through this difficult patch of the season.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:20After a couple of injury scares for Chelsea in recent weeks, the squad is nearly healed with Wesley Fofana the only absentee from Maresca's 'strongest' XI. Lavia completed a whole half of football at the weekend and is starting in a midfield pairing with Fernandez, who after an electric goalscoring start to December has seen that goal streak pitter out. Felix hasn't been rewarded with a start after his two goals, with Palmer, Sancho and Madueke all preferred to play a supporting role to Jackson, who has been backed after also losing his finishing touch.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:15SUBS: Daniel Adu Adjei, William Dennis, Matai Akinmboni, Daniel Jebbison, Justin Kluivert, Mawell Kinsey-Wellings, Remy Rees-Dottin, Dominic Sadi, Ben Winterburn.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:15BOURNEMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Mark Travers; James Hill, Ilya Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez; Lewis Cook, Tyler Adams; David Brooks, Ryan Christie, Antoine Semenyo; Dango Ouattara.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:10SUBS: Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Joao Felix, Filip Jorgensen, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Renato Veiga.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:10CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Moises Caicedo, Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Romeo Lavia, Enzo Fernandez; Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho; Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:10Bournemouth have been on a giant-slaying spree this season. Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham have all laid victims to the Cherries with impressive performances to match the results. They couldn't beat Chelsea in the reverse fixtures, with Robert Sanchez saving an Evanilson penalty and Christopher Nkunku striking later, but that won't faze them they are a team that are high on confidence and just as high in the table. A win here could move them into the European spots and level on points with Chelsea. Oh how quickly things can change in football!
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:04Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted that his side were not in a title race, and despite the constant downplaying the media continued to ask, but after a patchy festive period, where they only picked up two points in their last four league games, it looks as if the calls were premature. The Blues got back to winning ways in the FA Cup with an expected 5-0 win over Morecombe, but even then they looked lazy at times. They can't do that today against Bournemouth because they are a team that can smell blood and strike.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:04Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Chelsea v Bournemouth in the Premier League!
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
19:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
17:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
