Chelsea Vs Bournemouth: An In-Depth Look at the Key Moments

Before kickoff, there’s a minute’s applause for former Chelsea defender George Cohen.

The home side take the lead after just 16 minutes with Mason Mount’s incisive pass finding Kai Havertz beyond the area and the young German caressed his shot into the near corner while Mark Travers was rushing out to close the gap.

1. Kepa Arrizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a man in demand at the moment, and he earns a huge round of applause from the Chelsea fans for his save to deny Luke Shaw. He hasn't had a whole lot to do since, though, and the goalkeeper is unflappable as the Cherries attack on the break.

Mason Mount marks his 150th start for his boyhood club with a fine long-range effort that doubles the lead for Chelsea. It is a fitting way to mark the occasion.

Bournemouth defenders seem to be letting the ball slip in the final third, which is not helping their chances. Christian Pulisic swivels smartly but his effort is blocked, and then Lloyd Kelly heads another corner off the post. Denis Zakaria goes down in the box and needs treatment, which is not a good sign for Gary O'Neil's team. Marc Cucurella tries to rescue things by sending over a cross from the left which Kai Havertz can only head tamely wide.

2. Kalidou Koulibaly

The players are warming up at Stamford Bridge, just over an hour before kickoff. Both sides have made a number of changes from their last league outings with Jefferson Lerma, Jack Stacey and Joao Felix coming into the side for Bournemouth, while Chelsea bring in midfielder Mason Mount for his 150th start.

A lively opening from the hosts, a series of crosses land in the penalty area and Kepa gathers one with ease. The home fans chuckle at Marc Cucurella’s attempt to clear his lines with an obscene word – the Cherries player and his coaching staff both look unconvinced by his protestations.

Mason Mount is a major bright spot for Chelsea, his ball finding Sterling in space on the right and the England player delivering a fine close-range finish. The goal settles the nerves of the home crowd. But a minute later they are back on edge, Reece James going down with an injury in front of his travelling team-mates.

3. Jefferson Lerma

Jefferson Andres Lerma Solis (born 25 October 1994) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League side AFC Bournemouth and the Colombia national team. The 27-year-old joined The Cherries in 2018 for a club record transfer fee from Levante.

Lerma quickly became a key member of the team and made his mark in attack, scoring three goals and providing five assists in just nine games last season as the Cherries climbed out of the bottom half of the table.

The left-footer is in a more defensive role this season but still shows plenty of quality and his work rate is excellent. He is also a threat going forward and he was responsible for the Cherries equaliser after combining well with Ryan Christie and Dominic Solanke to create space inside the penalty area before curving a shot into the net. It was his second goal in his last two appearances.

4. Mason Mount

Mount is an important part of Chelsea’s midfield and this is his 100th Premier League appearance. He has racked up 23 goals and 18 assists this season.

Bournemouth’s high press makes it difficult for Chelsea to play through them and this is evident as the Blues don’t create a single clear chance in the first half. Lerma gets a strong sliding challenge in on Kante which forces him out of the game and this gives Bournemouth a corner.

A teasing cross from Hazard in the box is met by Rudiger who heads it wide. Loftus-Cheek takes a long throw towards Gosling but the full-back doesn’t get enough power on his volley to trouble Begovic. The referee adds four minutes to the first half as the match enters its final stages. Chelsea continue to dominate possession but have struggled to break down a resolute Bournemouth defence. The Cherries have a lot of respect for the quality of their opponents and this is reflected in their defensive approach to the clash.

5. Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz is proving to be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s squad. His first season with the club was a bit rocky but he showed his worth against Bournemouth.

The young German is a great playmaker with precise passing and the ability to draw defenders into his side. He interacts well with the other members of Chelsea’s central front line and he can also play in a more advanced striker role.

Havertz reaches the byline on the right and lifts in a cross that Marc Cucurella heads away. Chelsea have a few early chances but Bournemouth are holding firm.

Reece James goes down in the box with his head in his hands and needs treatment. He had been playing well but his injury will be a concern for the Cherries. He joins fellow injured players Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. January signing Noni Madueke takes the place of Loftus-Cheek.

6. Christian Pulisic

American midfielder Christian Pulisic is playing the final year of his contract with Chelsea, and he looks a little frustrated as he battles for time with a long list of forward options. Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz are in the mix for front-line places, but Pulisic finds himself behind them, as well as a number of other senior attackers.

Reece James whips in the first threatening cross of the night but it skips past Sterling. Then, Marc Cucurella lofts a high cross from the right that Kieffer Moore and Dominic Solanke are both close to reaching, but both headers are off target.

Noni Madueke goes close for the home side after jinking inside but his low shot is saved by Neto.

7. Reece James

The former England midfielder was a lively presence on the left of the Chelsea attack and his deft, glancing header diverted N’Golo Kante’s fine cross from the right in the ninth minute. He later found the side netting with a drive and looked dangerous when cutting in from the left.

Gary O’Neil’s Bournemouth side have not lost in their last six league games, but they were not exactly rampant against Chelsea. Courtois saved from Junior Stanislas and Joshua King before Matt Ritchie drove a shot narrowly wide after the break.

Marc Cucurella overhits his free-kick for more than 30 yards, and Philip Billing goes down under a challenge in the penalty area as he tries to make progress. A VAR check is brought in but the referee waved away the protests.

8. Jadon Anthony

A great through ball from January signing Jaidon Anthony evades everyone inside the Bournemouth penalty area and sets up Mason Mount for a simple finish. He has looked sharp since his arrival at the club and will be a key man for Gary O'Neil in their battle to avoid relegation.

A tense second half begins with the Cherries still in the bottom three but looking up a gear under O'Neil. They deserved a goal but failed to convert a good chance when Jefferson Lerma headed a Lewis Cook corner back across goal.

Chelsea's win marked their first league victory since March as Frank Lampard got off to a winning start as the Blues' caretaker boss. They escaped the danger of four straight losses as they won by two goals to one with substitutes Badiashille and Joao Felix scoring. Bournemouth remain three points above the relegation zone but will be worried by their lack of firepower as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left on the bench.

9. Dominic Solanke

Despite having one of the weakest scoring records in the EPL, Solanke is a strong team player. He placed one shot (off-target) in Saturday’s win and he also created two chances.

He is unable to capitalise on a free kick in a dangerous position awarded after a clumsy challenge from Thiago Silva. Solanke then glances a great opportunity wide from a cross on the right.

Ryan Christie creates a beautiful sequence of one-touch passes before setting up Matias Vina who curles his effort from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Gary O’Neil substitutes for Solanke and the young striker fires a powerful shot over the bar from just inside the area. He then glances another excellent chance wide from a cross on the left. Hakim Ziyech and Reece James both fire shots over the bar as Chelsea struggle to find a way through a well-drilled Bournemouth defence.