Three Chelsea Players Enzo Maresca Will Surely Axe vs Bournemouth

Enzo Maresca is set to make bold changes to Chelsea's lineup for their crucial Premier League clash against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, aiming to end 2025 on a high note after a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. The Blues sit fifth in the table, having squandered leads in multiple home games this season against Brighton, Sunderland, Arsenal, and Villa, earning just one point from a possible 12. Maresca's visible frustration post-Villa underscores the urgency for rotation.[2]

With Chelsea boasting an eight-game unbeaten streak against Bournemouth—four wins and four draws—Maresca remains cautious. A concerning statistic looms: all eight of Bournemouth's goals at Stamford Bridge since their promotion have come in the second half, exploiting Chelsea's poor game management, a flaw Maresca has publicly criticized. Bournemouth, despite their leaky defense and poor form, could extend Chelsea's home woes to just four wins in 10 matches this season.[2]

To counter this, Maresca will axe three underperforming or fatigued players: first, a struggling central midfielder whose errors have cost leads in recent home fixtures; second, a full-back exposed defensively against Villa; and third, a forward lacking sharpness despite starting chances. In their place, expect a Maresca favorite and the return of Estevao Willian to inject pace and creativity. This predicted XI emphasizes rotation for freshness against a Bournemouth side conceding freely but dangerous late on.[1][2]

Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo adds intrigue, with speculation linking him to Manchester City. The Ghanaian, born in Chelsea, could join elite company as only the fourth player to score at Old Trafford, Anfield, and Stamford Bridge in one season. Maresca must ensure his side avoids a second-half collapse to maintain top-four hopes.[2]

(Word count: 298)