Team
news, stats and prediction ahead of Watford vs Chelsea in the Premier League
on Wednesday; kick-off 7.30pm.
Team news
Watford have a mounting casualty list ahead of Chelsea's visit on Wednesday,
with Ismaila Sarr, Ben Foster and Nicolas Nkoulou sidelined until at least
January.
The club have confirmed Senegal winger Sarr suffered knee ligament damage in
the victory over Manchester United on November 20, with his participation in
January's Africa Cup of Nations seemingly in doubt.
Emmanuel Dennis and Juraj Kucka are doubts and will have to be assessed,
while Francisco Sierralta (hamstring), Peter Etebo (quad) and Kwadwo Baah
(ankle) are sidelined.
Provisional Watford squad: Bachmann, Femenia, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong,
Masina, Louza, Hernandez, Cleverley, Sissoko, King, Dennis, Ngakia, Rose,
Joao Pedro, Kucka, Fletcher, Tufan, Kabasele, Elliot, Morris
Chelsea will hand late fitness tests to Jorginho, Reece James and Timo
Werner ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road.
The trio have trained following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United at
Stamford Bridge, but manager Thomas Tuchel says they require further
assessment.
Tuchel remains without Ben Chilwell, N'Golo Kante (both knee) and Mateo
Kovacic (hamstring), but striker Romelu Lukaku is once again available after
returning from an ankle issue as a late substitute against United.
Provisional Chelsea squad: Mendy, Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Silva, Rudiger,
Chalobah, Sarr, James, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Hudson-Odoi, Loftus-Cheek,
Niguez, Jorginho, Barkley, Ziyech, Mount, Havertz, Werner, Pulisic, Lukaku.
Jones Knows prediction
There should not be too many problems on the horizon in this one. Chelsea
are 1/3 with Sky Bet for good reason.
I am hoping Thomas Tuchel keeps faith with Hakim Ziyech in the role
traditionally played by Mason Mount as his first Premier League goal of the
season is around the corner. In his last four starts in all competitions
playing in that flexible attacking role, Ziyech has posted an average
expected goals figure of 0.47 per 90 minutes and fired 15 shots on goal. He
managed to find a way to score in the 1-0 win over Malmo and his confidence
looks sky-high at the moment after a low-key initial start to life under
Tuchel's watch.
The 5/1 with Sky Bet for him to score the first goal makes plenty of sense
from an each-way perspective.
SCORE PREDICTION: 0-2
BETTING ANGLE: Hakim Ziyech to score first (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Opta stats
Watford have lost seven of their last eight Premier League meetings with
Chelsea, winning the other 4-1 in February 2018. The Hornets have conceded
21 goals in these eight games (2.6 per game).
Chelsea have won their last two away league games against Watford, but have
never won three in a row at Vicarage Road before.
Since a goalless draw in February 2016, there has been 33 goals scored in
eight Premier League games between Watford (12 goals) and Chelsea (21), at
an average of 4.1 per game.
Watford won their last Premier League game on a Wednesday, beating Wolves
2-1 in January 2020. The Hornets had never previously won a Premier League
match on this day before that (D4 L12).
Chelsea haven't won any of their last five Premier League games played on a
Wednesday (D2 L3). The Blues last had a longer winless run on a specific
weekday between November 2010 and February 2011 (6 games on Sundays).
Watford haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 23 Premier League
matches, the longest current run of any team, and have shipped 45 goals in
these games since a 3-0 win over Liverpool in February 2020.
top