Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea : Blues positives and negatives

3. Lack of Awareness and Ball Control

There were moments in the match when Cole Palmer found himself in open space, ready to receive the ball, yet his teammates failed to spot him. Despite his proven ability to create chances, they overlooked him time and again. Additionally, Chelsea struggled to keep the ball moving effectively, with Nicolas Jackson losing possession multiple times after dribbling into trouble instead of passing to a teammate. Noni Madueke, too, needs to work on his decision-making, as he often attempted to shoot or dribble when better options were available.

4. Anthony Taylor's Officiating

Once again, Anthony Taylor was at the heart of controversy with several baffling decisions during the Bournemouth vs. Chelsea match. The game now holds the record for the most yellow cards in Premier League history, despite there being no major incidents or fouls that would suggest a fiery encounter. Many of these bookings appeared to be less about the game itself and more about Taylor asserting his authority unnecessarily.

Chelsea fans were already frustrated with the fact that Taylor has officiated three of their last five Premier League matches, a pattern that has left many questioning his impartiality. His history of dubious decisions against Chelsea is well-known, even among rival fans. While VAR has occasionally worked in Chelsea's favor, Taylor's influence on games involving the Blues still raises concerns.

What’s even more surprising is that neither the club nor the league has taken any action, despite repeated instances of questionable officiating. Taylor consistently gets assigned to Chelsea’s most high-profile matches, including this season’s opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, and he also refereed the same fixture last season. It wouldn’t be shocking if he were appointed to officiate their upcoming clashes at Anfield or Old Trafford.