Frank Lampard’s young blues side suffered a deserved loss against David Moyses’ rejuvenated West Ham in the mid-week fixtures. As Ukranian wide man Andriy Yarmolenko scored the match winner in the London Derby.
The Blues, host league strugglers Watford who have only managed to pick a single point since the return of the Premier League.
The Hornets, who now sit one point a drift of the relegation zone and chasing Aston Vila, since West Ham claimed all three points against the blues.
Nigel Pearson will hope to change Watford’s fortune as they will look to capitalise on the vulnerable Chelsea backline.
Form:
Chelsea:
Were a team bang in form, winning there opening two games against Aston Villa and Manchester City, as well as claiming an FA cup semi-final place, following their 1-0 victory over Leicester City.
Frank Lampard has had the luxury of players hitting a good run of form especially the likes of Willian, a player who recently extended his contract keeping him until the end of the season. Captain America himself, Christian Pulisic has also become a stand out player scoring 2 goals in his last three matches for the blues.
Pulisic’s form has excited fans since the return showing his quality both on and off the ball, with his Hazard-esc dribbling and pinpoint finishing.
However, its Chelsea’s defence that has been illuminated over the course of this season with its vulnerability in possession and set piece marking, with Lampard’s team conceding 44 goals and only keeping 6 clean sheets in the league this season.
Watford:
Watford have lost four of the previous six away day trips. However, they have failed to score in three.
Pearson’s side last victory was against Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year’s Day where they ran out 2-1 winners.
The Hornet’s manager is used to the fairy-tale ‘great escape’ in the English topflight since keeping teams like Leicester and West Brom up in previous seasons.
Head to head:
Stamford Bridge has been a tough place to come for the Hornets, as they haven’t picked points up at Bridge since their 2-2 draw in 2015. With Chelsea running out victorious in 20 of the last previous 36 encounters.
At Vicarage Road earlier on in the season 2-1 winners with Chelsea’s top goal scorer Tammy Abraham (13) on the scoresheet as well as Pulisic, before Gerard Deulofeu added a consolation from the spot.
Team News:
Since returning from COVID-19 Pandemic, Chelsea have emerged without any injuries and fully fit squad.
Eagle eyed Chelsea fans would have noticed the return to the bench, for young English attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi who was an unused substitute against West Ham. Another player, who is still yet to be used, is young English defender Fikayo Tomori.
The Hornets will be without defender Craig Dawson who picked up another yellow against Southampton, results in a game suspension.
Deulofeu is still out injured following his ACL injury he suffered in February and has been a huge loss for the league strugglers.
Daryl Janmaat and Isaac Success are also out injured through long term injuries.
Prediction:
I think Chelsea will be the team to bounce back from their mid-week defeat. As the blues will run out 3-0 winners with goals coming from Olivier Giroud at the brace and Mason Mount.