The 32nd Premier League season draws to a close this afternoon and Chelsea can end it by guaranteeing European football for the 2024/25 campaign.

Mauricio Pochettino's side welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge for a 4pm kick-off, which is aligned with the other nine top-flight fixtures that will take place.

One point will be enough to guarantee Chelsea finish in sixth position in the Premier League, but three will be wanted against a Bournemouth side that has recently claimed a club-record points tally in the top flight.

The reverse fixture took place in September and ended 0-0. It ensured a fourth successive game without defeat against the Cherries and was noteworthy as Cole Palmer made just his second appearance for the Blues.

The 22-year-old has established himself as a key figure in the Chelsea side – and scored our 100th goal in all competitions in midweek against Brighton. Christopher Nkunku soon added No.101.

With 75 of those coming in the Premier League, the Blues have already recorded our fourth-highest total in the Premier League era behind 2021/22 (76), 2016/17 (85) and 2009/10 (103).

The Londoners are also currently 16 points better off than 2022/23, a figure that could rise to 19 if we can overcome the Cherries.

As well as moving up to sixth place in the table, Wednesday's vital win at Brighton secured our fifth league double of the season, and a fourth straight victory for the first time since October 2022.

Pochettino’s side need one point to secure a place in either the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League – should Manchester United lose the FA Cup final to rivals City – or UEFA Conference League - should United win.

The Blues have won nine of our past eleven league matches on the Fulham Road and have taken 21 points from the last possible 30, a record only bettered by title contenders Arsenal (25) and Manchester City (26).

Chelsea team news

Palmer will look to finish his campaign with a flourish and extend his fine form at Stamford Bridge – he has grabbed 14 goals in his last nine home appearances.

As a team, Chelsea have scored two or more goals in each of the past nine matches at the Bridge across all competitions. This includes a run of three wins in our last three home games at an aggregate score of 13-0.

At Brighton in midweek, Nkunku coolly converted what would prove the decisive goal – with the blue balloon celebration at last – for his third in 13 games.

Fellow substitute Reece James’ night ended more abruptly but Lesley Ugochukwu had his first minute’s action of 2024.

Trevoh Chalobah started again in midweek and only once have we suffered defeat this season when the Cobham graduate has been named in the side – the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

Malo Gusto is available while decisions will be taken over the fitness of Carney Chukwuemeka and Ben Chilwell, who returned to team training earlier in the week.

But just as the absentee list had shortened, two more names were added following the Brighton game. Concussion protocol means Mykhailo Mudryk will miss this fixture while James is suspended following his red card.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout – Bournemouth

With attacking full-backs, a hard-working midfield, quick wingers and a Cobham-schooled goalscorer in attack, Andoni Iraola’s Cherries have caught plenty of opponents off-guard this year.

However, they have been beaten in three of their past four fixtures on the road and have lost every encounter with a top-five club – except a 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa in December.

Chelsea Academy graduate Dominic Solanke has had an outstanding season in front of goal, netting 19 times in the league.

Player of the Month nominee Antoine Semenyo, (eight), Patrick Kluivert’s son Justin (seven), and aggressive centre-back defender Marcos Senesi (four) have also weighed in with goals.

Iraola, nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season, has also brought out the best in players he inherited, such as midfielder Lewis Cook, who has occasionally been deployed as a centre-back when needed.

The visitors have dropped 27 points from winning positions in the top flight this season – only Brentford (30) have lost more after getting in front – but they possess the ninth-best away record in the division.

The history

There has been a binary pattern to league visits by the Dorset club, four Chelsea wins alternating with similar success for Bournemouth – with neither losing side finding the net in any of the games.

The Cherries' most recent visit to SW6, the day after Boxing Day 2022, saw Kai Havertz and Mason Mount strike inside 25 minutes to secure a 2-0 win.

Our biggest victory over Bournemouth came in December 2016. Antonio Conte’s eventual champions led through Pedro’s chip before false nine Eden Hazard earned and converted a penalty.

As the Boxing Day action drew to a close, Steve Cook gifted a third, deflecting Pedro’s shot past Artur Boruc for a 3-0 scoreline.

Last-day dramas at the Bridge

Promotions, salvations, carefree goalfests, and fond farewells have all featured on previous the final days of the league season at Stamford Bridge.

Our first promotion season, all the way back in 1907, marked the first memorable final-day home game.

After promotion had been confirmed in a 4-0 walloping of Wolves two matches earlier, it was after the 4-1 defeat of Gainsborough Trinity that 15 ‘mysterious little cases’ were placed on tables in front of the main stand.

‘Each,’ reported London’s Morning Leader, ‘containing a gold medal inscribed with the name of a player and the magic word “Promotion”.’

Since that day, three more of our final league games at the Bridge have confirmed promotion to the top flight: a 1-0 win over Bradford in 1912, the 7-0 thrashing of Portsmouth in 1963 and 4-0 drubbing of Hull in 1977.

Occasionally, the final day has confirmed relief rather than joy with relegation narrowly avoided. In 1951, a 4-0 drubbing of Bolton, with braces for Roy Bentley and 18-year-old Bobby Smith, preserved top flight status by the merest advantage in goal average.

And in 1983 a Paul Canoville header struck the bar late but the 0-0 scoreline kept both the Blues and visitors Middlesbrough in Division Two.

We've also had European matters settled by a season finale at the Bridge, most memorably in 2003.

Marcel Desailly’s equalising header against Liverpool confirmed Champions League football and financial safety; Jesper Grønkjær’s winner was merely the icing on the cake.

A decade later, against Merseyside rivals Everton, Fernando Torres secured a place among Europe’s elite again with his second-half goal earning a 2-1 home win, meaning we finished in third place.

Perhaps the ultimate Fulham Road finale is the 8-0 win against Wigan in May 2010.

One point separated the Blues and second-placed Manchester United going into the final day. After a slow start, our joint-biggest ever Premier League victory delivered the league title for the fourth time – along with a second Golden Boot for hat-trick hero Didier Drogba.

The last game of the season has naturally also brought some emotional goodbyes from Blues legends.

On 21 May 2017, during the 5-1 hammering of Sunderland, club legend John Terry was substituted at the minute of his No.26 shirt and was chaired off by teammates.

This weekend, both club and fans will be marking the departure of another hugely popular defender. Muito obrigado, Thiago Silva.

Race for UEFA places

A point will retain sixth position for the Blues, but a win would bring fifth place into play – with incumbents Tottenham traveling to Sheffield United. Spurs are three points clear but with an inferior goal difference.

As things stand fifth is the only definite Europa League place, and as recently as early April the Blues trailed the Lilywhites by 16 points.

The allocation of UEFA places will not be known until after the FA Cup final as a Europa League ticket is one of the winning prizes. Should it go to Champions League-qualified Manchester City, the Europa berth will pass down the league to sixth, with seventh becoming a Conference League slot.

However, should Manchester United prevail at Wembley the European places will remain as they are, with fifth earning Europa League and sixth gaining entry to the Conference League.

Chelsea are the only contender with home advantage on the final day.

The Scramble for Europe