toptop



May 14, 2017


Chelsea v. Watford Preview  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea v. WatfordChelsea captain John Terry and striker Michy Batshuayi could start for the Premier League champions against Watford on Monday Night Football.

Defender Terry has two opportunities to add to his 715 Chelsea appearances before leaving this summer after 22 years' service.

Antonio Conte wrapped up the title in his first Premier League season, beating West Brom 1-0 on Friday Night Football, and the Blues have the chance to end the season on an impressive 93 points, just two short of their 2004/05 record under Jose Mourinho.

Watford, meanwhile, have taken their foot off the gas since reaching 40 points a month ago, losing their last four Premier League games.

They are currently five points short of their overall tally for the 2015/16 season under Quique Sanchez Flores.

Team news

Batshuayi could be rewarded by Conte for scoring the title-clinching winner at West Brom on Friday with his first Premier League start, while N'Golo Kante could return to the first XI.

Walter Mazzarri's Watford face an injury crisis, with Christian Kabasele suffering a hamstring problem during Friday's defeat at Everton.

Miguel Britos, Craig Cathcart and Younes Kaboul are already out of action.

Opta stats

Chelsea are unbeaten in six Premier League meetings against Watford since losing the first clash in September 1999 (W4 D2).

The Hornets are winless in their last six league visits to Stamford Bridge since winning 5-1 in May 1986 (D4 L2).

Watford's 1-0 win in 1999 is the Hornets' only win over the Blues in their last 16 meetings in all competitions (D5 L10).

Diego Costa scored twice against Watford at Stamford Bridge last season in a 2-2 draw and scored the winner in the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road this season.

Watford have lost all five of their previous Premier League matches against teams that have been top of the league on the day of the match and have failed to score in each of the last three.

Chelsea have won 13 of their last 14 Premier League home matches, with the only blip in this run a 1-2 defeat to Crystal Palace in April.

If Chelsea win this match they'll reach 48 points at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this season - exactly double the tally in the whole of 2015-16.



The Soccerlinks Hit List