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PREVIEW: Chelsea vs Watford – 21/10/17

Chelsea vs Watford

Date: 21/10/17

K.O: 12.30pm

TV: Sky Sports Premier League

Chelsea host Watford in the lunch-time kick-off on Saturday, with Antonio Conte looking to avoid a third consecutive league defeat for the first time in his managerial career at Chelsea.

Watford, buoyed by their last minute winner versus Arsenal last weekend, are in excellent form in the league, sitting fourth in the table with just one league defeat in 2017/18.

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Chelsea under Conte have lost their last two league games; to Manchester City and Crystal Palace, and therefore Saturday’s game against Watford is simply vital if Chelsea are to retain title ambitions and keep pace in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.

Team News: 

Antonio Conte will run late checks on David Luiz (calf), Victor Moses (hamstring) and Tiemoue Bakayoko (groin), with Conte declaring this week Chelsea are verging on an injury crisis.

These three are joined by Victor Moses, Ngolo Kante and Danny Drinkwater on Chelsea’s injury list, with Conte expected to call on Andreas Christensen to deputise in his three-man defence.

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Miguel Britos displaced Adrian Mariappa in the Hornets defence last weekend, and Marco Silva could continue with this trend at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Nathaniel Chalobah, Craig Cathcart and Isaac Success remain long-term absentees for Watford, whilst Silva could turn to Troy Deeney to lead the attacking line.

Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure are expected to start in an unchanged midfield, with Tom Cleverley deployed in a number ten role further up for Silva.

Expected starting XI’s:

Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Willian, Hazard; Morata.

Watford: Gomes; Femenia, Britos, Kasabele, Holebas; Capoue, Doucoure; Carrillo, Cleverley, Richarlison; Deeney.

Prediction: Chelsea 2 Watford 2

Written by Tom Newman.

Tom Newman

Founder and Editor at 90MAAT.

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