Draw with Bournemouth puts Chelsea at risk of dropping out of Premier League top 5

The 2-2 draw against Bournemouth not only caused Chelsea to lose two points on their home ground but also puts The Blues at risk of falling out of the top five in the Premier League following this matchday.

Chelsea entered the match against Bournemouth under pressure to secure a win to maintain their position among the league leaders. Before this round, Enzo Maresca’s side stood 5th with 30 points from 19 games, but the gap to the chasing pack was very narrow. With direct rivals all having chances to gain points, any slip-up could see Chelsea drop down the table.

On the pitch, Chelsea had a poor start. Just six minutes in, Bournemouth unexpectedly took the lead when David Brooks capitalized on a rebound inside the box to score. The goal was initially reviewed by VAR due to a handball suspicion but was ultimately allowed, leaving the home team chasing from very early on.

Chelsea quickly increased the pressure. At the 13th minute, following a collision in the penalty area, referee Samuel Barrott consulted VAR and awarded a penalty to the home side. Cole Palmer took the spot-kick at minute 15; despite goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic touching the ball, he couldn’t stop it, leveling the score at 1-1. Then at minute 23, Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea ahead 2-1 with a sharp finish inside the box assisted by Alejandro Garnacho.

However, Chelsea’s familiar defensive frailty showed again: just four minutes after taking the lead, Justin Kluivert seized a rebound and scored with a low shot, restoring parity at 2-2 before halftime. The first half ended with an open game but exposed the vulnerability of the home team’s defense.

In the second half, Chelsea dominated possession and made several substitutions to find a winning goal. Reece James, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens were brought on, demonstrating Enzo Maresca’s determination to claim all three points. Chances came for Estêvão and Enzo Fernandez, but inaccurate finishing and excellent saves by Bournemouth’s goalkeeper kept the visitors’ net untouched.

Bournemouth did not just defend passively. At 90+1 minutes, Enes Unal had a chance to seal the game with a shot inside the box, but the ball flew just over the crossbar. After six minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle on a 2-2 draw that felt disappointing for Chelsea.

This result gave Chelsea only one point and leaves them at clear risk of being overtaken by the teams behind, potentially dropping out of the top five after this round. With Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool maintaining steady form, dropping points against Bournemouth is not only a regrettable slip but could also cost Chelsea dearly in the race for next season’s Champions League qualification.

Team news Chelsea vs Bournemouth

• Chelsea:Colwill, Esugo, and Lavia are unavailable.
• Bournemouth:Adams, Akinmboni, and Doak are missing.

Expected lineups Chelsea vs Bournemouth

• Chelsea:Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.
• Bournemouth:Petrovic; Jimenez, Diakite, Senesi, Truffert; Tavernier, Cook; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Evanilson.

Form & Head-to-head record

• Chelsea form:In their last 5 matches, Chelsea won 2, drew 1, and lost 2. They scored 9 goals and conceded 7.
• Bournemouth form:In their last 5 matches, Bournemouth won 0, drew 3, and lost 2. They scored 6 goals and conceded 10.
• Head-to-head record:In the last 5 meetings, Chelsea won 2 and drew 3.