Chelsea will be bidding to extend a decade-long streak when they square off against Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Due to their early exit from the EFL Cup, Chelsea will be playing their first competitive fixture since losing to Newcastle United on November 12.
The Blues begin the latest matchday in eighth position, eight points adrift of the Champions League spots, and they will be lower down the table when they take to the pitch on Tuesday after the Boxing Day fixtures.
However, the West Londoners head into this encounter with history in their favour, even if they are facing opponents who have a strong record at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have not suffered defeat in their final fixture of a calendar year since losing to Aston Villa by a 3-1 scoreline in 2011.
That has left the club on a 10-game unbeaten streak when that particular date is concerned, with a draw versus Brighton & Hove Albion being recorded in the equivalent match last year.
However, at a time when Chelsea have suffered three successive defeats in the top flight, they have also succumbed in three of their last home meetings with Bournemouth.
Each of the Cherries' top-flight wins over Chelsea in the capital have also come with clean sheets, 1-0 scorelines being posted either side of the 3-0 success in January 2018.
Bournemouth also head into this game having avoided defeat in their most recent three showdowns with Chelsea, the last of which occurred at the Vitality Stadium in February 2020.
On that occasion, Chelsea were reliant on two goals from Marcos Alonso, the second being an equaliser during the closing stages on the South coast.
Bournemouth will move to within two points of Chelsea in the table if they can once again upset the odds at Stamford Bridge.
Darren Plant
