Rock-bottom Watford are still searching for their first Premier League win of the season as they welcome Chelsea to Vicarage Road.
A home win could lift Watford off the bottom and possibly up to 18th depending on how Norwich and Southampton fare elsewhere, whilst Chelsea will temporary leapfrog Leicester at least into third or even second if Manchester City lose.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesEtienne Capoue could return for Watford after recovering from a back injury, which has kept him out of their last three matches.
Isaac Success could also feature after recovering from a groin injury in recent weeks, although Tom Cleverley won’t be risked this weekend as he continues to recover from a heel injury.
Danny Welbeck (thigh), Troy Deeney (knee), Ismailia Sarr (leg) and Domingos Quina (groin) are all ruled out until after the international break.
Chelsea could have Andreas Christiansen available after a few weeks out with a hamstring injury.
Emerson is a doubt with a hamstring strain whilst N’Golo Kante could be rested ahead of a midweek Champions League clash with Ajax.
Antonio Rudiger (groin) and Ross Barkley (ankle) won’t be risked until next weekend, as Marco van Ginkel (knee) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain sidelined.
Form
Watford are still winless in the league but have drawn their last three league games of which two finished goalless, despite that little run ending in midweek with a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Everton.
Chelsea saw their seven match unbeaten run in all competitions ended in midweek when they lost at home to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, although they are on a four league game winning run despite failing to keep a clean sheet on the road all season.
Stat Attack
- Watford have just taken five points from an available 24 across their last eight meetings with Chelsea (W1, D2, L5).
- Both teams have scored in five of their last six meetings, which ended in May when Chelsea ran out 3-0 home winners.
- Only one of Chelsea’s five goals against the Hornets last season came in the first half.
- Chelsea are yet to score from a free-kick this season in the Premier League.
- Gerard Deulofeu has been Watford’s top shooter this season with 24 shots, of which ten were on target.
Prediction
Defence seems to be a common issue between both teams here but Chelsea are more clinical, which is a positive aspect coming into this game against a weak Watford attack who have only scored five goals.
I therefore am expecting a decent game with mistakes at both ends but given Chelsea’s attacking form, I can’t see Watford getting any points here.
Prediction: Watford 1-2 Chelsea
Result: Watford 1-2 Chelsea
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