Chelsea vs Watford
Date: 05/05/2019
K/O: 14:00
Referee: Paul Tierney
Chelsea will seek to solidify their position in the Champions League next season as they host a Watford team who have troubled many this season.
It has been far from plain sailing for the Blues this season but they seem to be ending it relatively strongly. A score draw away in Germany midweek as well as salvaging a point against Manchester United last Sunday means Sarris men carry a strong team mentality into this weeks fixture.
Watford meanwhile are playing for very little other than mid-table positions but have proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with this season. They have arguably bigger things to worry about as their players fight for a place in the starting line up for the FA Cup Final.
Chelsea should take serious hope in the idea that the minds of their opposition may well be elsewhere. This season’s race for the top four has been fiercer than I can remember. The top two was decided probably before a ball was kicked but Chelsea, United, Arsenal and Tottenham have been struggling with each other all season. Each has had their moments but it looks like, barring any mishaps, it will be Tottenham and Chelsea that take the remaining spots. It will however depend on whether Watford can throw a spanner in the works and disrupt their fellow Londoners.
Team News
Chelsea: The Blues have remained largely injury free all season but their reliance on Eden Hazard for all things creative is still their biggest hindrance. The Belgian is fit to start this weekend but if rumours are to be believed he may well have one eye on sunny Madrid rather than a bank holiday Kings Road.
The two that are definitely out are Hudson-Odoi (Achilles) and Rudiger (knee). The latter is more of an issue as Chelsea have Pedro and Willian to cover for CHO. In defence, it will be Luiz and Christensen starting with Ampadu and Cahill waiting in the wings as replacements in case anything else should happen.
Higuain should be a shoo-in to start in attack after some midweek rest as he seeks to find his goalscoring form to boost Chelsea’s top-four hopes.
Watford: Troy Deeney seems set to come in after his suspension. However one imagines that Delofeu and Andre Gray may have something to say about that having both scored two goals in the former’s absence.
Miguel Britos and Etienne Capoue however are both ruled out according to Javi Garcia. Capoue leaves a vacancy for which Cleverly and Chalobah will have to compete. However, the letter will fancy the chance to dent his old clubs top-four ambitions.
Predicted Starting XIs
Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; Emerson, Luiz, Christensen, Azpi; Kante, Jorginho, Loftus Cheek; Hazard, Willian, Higuain
Watford (4-4-2): Foster; Femenia, Mariappa, Kabasele, Holebas; Hughes, Cleverly, Doucoure, Pereyra; Deulofeu Deeney
