Chelsea are up against rock bottom Watford FC in Saturday’s late Premier League kickoff. The Blues have been playing some very good football of late and will be looking to get all three points. They have lost just 1 of their last 20 against team on the bottom of the PL pile – Crystal Palace beating Chelsea 2-1 – October 2017.
The team from West London had been on a run of seven consecutive wins in all competitions prior to Wednesday nights loss to Manchester United. They were beaten 1-2 at The Bridge, courtesy of some outstanding individual performance by United number 10 Marcus Rashford. Michy Batshuayi also scored one well taken goal but his effort went to vain. Watford lost out to Merseysiders Everton 2-0 in a miserable evening for the Hornets. They couldn’t muster up more than one shot on target against the Toffees.
Doubts on N’golo Kante’s fitness still persist but Chelsea Boss Frank Lampard said that the Frenchman will be back in training in ‘two or three days’. One positive for the Londoners is the return of Callum Hudson-Odoi to match fitness. Captain Cesar Azpilicueta has his early season woes put to bed and has been returning to his regular disciplined performances.
Watford are having an abysmal start to the Premier League season and were the first side to sack their manager – Javi Gracia. Quique Sanchez Flores returned to replace him and instill confidence in the team. They are yet to win this season and would be looking to avoid an infamous record of being winless in the opening 11 games of a season for the first time since Queens Park Rangers back in 2012-13.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS:
Watford and incoming manager Quique Sanchez Flores, have a number of injury problems to deal with, as the likes of holding midfielder Etienne Capoue, club Captain Troy Deeney and new signing Ismailla Sarr are all sidelined. The Spaniard has returned to his old formation and has shown his faith towards Roberto Pereyra and Abdoulaye Doucoure. The Hornets are badly in need of goals and ex-Barcelona man Gerard Deulofeu would be kept in charge to supply creativity upfront.
Predicted Line-Ups:
Foster, Janmaat, Kabasele, Dawson, Cathcart (C), Holebas, Hughes, Chalobah, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Pereyra 3-5-2
The Londoners would he hoping to bounce back from a home defeat and continue their good Premier League form. Antonio Rudiger declared himself fit for Saturday’s game but manager Lampard rubished his claims stating that the Germany international still needs monitoring. N’golo Kante is still absent and will probably return before the international break. It remains to be seen whether American Christian Pulisic will start 2 games on the bounce, after a quite remarkable performance against Burnley last time out. Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Willian are set to be named in the starting sheet.
Predicted Line-Ups:
Kepa, Alonso, Tomori, Zouma, Azpilicueta (C), Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount, Pulisic, Abraham, Willian 4-3-3
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Venue: Vicarage Road, Watford (21577)
English Premier League, Round 11
Time: 17:30 GMT, Saturday
