Preview: Chelsea vs. Bournemouth – team news, lineups, prediction, live stream

From going unbeaten in their first nine games under Graham Potter to suffering four defeats from their last five competitive fixtures before the World Cup break, the new manager bounce has well and truly worn off for a goal-shy Chelsea outfit.

Progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners has been a small silver lining amid the backdrop of dismal domestic fortunes, with the Blues going out of the EFL Cup in the third round to Manchester City and suffering successive Premier League losses against Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Bill Foley’s recent £120m takeover has also led to a new wave of optimism surrounding future transfer business, and two successive wins over Everton in the EFL Cup and Premier League by a 7-1 aggregate scoreline saw Bournemouth enter the World Cup break on the highest of highs.

Bournemouth were back in competitive action on Tuesday, making the daunting trip to Newcastle United to reunite with Eddie Howe in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, but only a 67th-minute Adam Smith own goal could separate the two sides in a 1-0 success for the Magpies.

Mason Mount and Kepa Arrizabalaga could recover from calf and foot problems in time to make the squad, but only the former is said to have a good chance of shaking off his concern, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be out to score for the second time against Bournemouth on Boxing Day after doing so for Arsenal in 2019.

Bournemouth boss O’Neil has also been working with a ravaged squad for different reasons, as between eight and 10 players fell victim to a virus before the meeting with Newcastle, including Ben Pearson, Joe Rothwell and Ryan Fredericks.

O’Neil was still able to call upon a good chunk of his settled first XI at St James’ Park, although Neto and David Brooks are out until the New Year, while Jefferson Lerma, Lloyd Kelly and Marcus Tavernier will all need last-minute fitness tests.

The Cherries coach expects Lerma to bounce back from a sore knee in time for Tuesday’s match, where Jaidon Anthony should deputise on the left if Tavernier – who has both scored and assisted in his last two Premier League games – is not passed fit.