Team news
- Chelsea
Fikayo Tomori and Mateo Kovacic are ruled out of the game.
- Watford
Gerard Deulofeu, Daryl Janmaat, Isaac Success will not take part in the clash.
📋 Stats to know (via Opta)
- Watford have won only one and lost 13 of their past 17 meetings with Chelsea in league and cup.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 home meetings with the Hornets since a 5-1 loss in May 1986 (W8, D4).
- Watford have conceded 11 goals on their last three trips to Stamford Bridge.
- Frank Lampard has finished on the winning team in all five Premier League matches against Watford, four as a player and once as a manager.
- Lampard celebrates his one-year anniversary as Chelsea boss on the day of the game.
- Watford have won only one of their past 10 league matches (D3, L6), and are winless in four.
⚽ Probable line-ups (via Tribuna.com)
- Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Christensen, Zouma, Azpilicueta; Mount, Jorginho, Gilmour; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic
- Watford XI: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Kabasele, Masina; Capoue, Hughes; Sarr, Doucoure, Welbeck; Deeney
🔮 Score predictions
- Mark Lawrenson, BBC: Chelsea 2-0 Watford
"Chelsea have got some excellent midfielders and forwards, but I am not sure that is going to enough to get them a top-four finish this time. There is a lot of work to be done at the back and they are going to have more hiccups like the one they had when they lost to West Ham in midweek. I would still back them to beat Watford though, because the Hornets have lost all of their momentum."
- SportsMole: Chelsea 2-1 Watford
"With Watford having had a week to prepare for this contest, we are expecting a closely-fought match at Stamford Bridge. However, under pressure to improve after their setback in midweek, Chelsea could edge this game if Lampard freshens up his team."
- Pat Nevin, Chelseafc.com: Chelsea 2-0 Watford
The former Stamford Bridge midfielder also backs Tammy Abraham to score the first goal of the game at the end of the first half.
💬 Quotes from the managers
Frank Lampard: "They’re a dangerous team and with Nigel Pearson, they’ve shown a real desire to get out of trouble. He came in at a really tough time but there’s a spirit within them so I won’t pay too much attention to recent results. We know they have a very good side and they’re desperate for points.
"We came unstuck against a team in a similar situation a few days ago so we should be fully aware of the dangers of the game."
Craig Shakespeare, Watford assistant head coach: "We all know Chelsea have good quality in-depth and they’ve used it to good intents so far. I think if you look at the form we showed earlier on and our performances, and I don’t want to harp back, but we know what we’re capable of.
"We know what performances these players have put in in the past and we know their attributes. The focus has to be on us, not anybody else."
