Chelsea in Danger of Slipping Out of Top Four
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The traditional Boxing Day fixtures see nine matches in total and the final game of the day is a London derby between Watford and Chelsea.
This is a match which features two teams in the top half of the table but each have different aims this season. If Watford can finish inside the top 8 places, which is a position they currently occupy, it would be a great season.
Anything but the top four would be a disappointment for Chelsea and they run the risk of falling down to 5th in the table if they fail to win this match.
Watford recorded an excellent 2-0 win at West Ham on Saturday afternoon. No one expected to see the Hornets to come away with maximum points against a team which has been in great form. However, that win means Watford themselves have hit a good patch of form and having picked up a point in a 2-2 draw at Everton they defeated Cardiff City 3-2 at home.
Trends show Watford have been very inconsistent at home, winning their first three matches in the Premier League before losing two against Manchester United and Bournemouth. They have also lost at home against Liverpool and Chelsea which suggests Watford struggle against the big teams at Vicarage Road.
Watford have conceded 2 or more goals in five of their last six games.
Chelsea suffered a very poor home defeat at the hands of Leicester City last time out and need to return to winning ways immediately if they are to keep the pressure on the top three teams in the Premier League.
It was a bad performance by the Blues in a game they were expected to win and they suffered their first defeat in five matches in all competitions.
However, it is not the first time Chelsea have dropped points this season and they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Everton before losing at Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea also lost against Wolverhampton Wanderers and have won only one of their last three away Premier League matches.
Trends show Chelsea have scored at least once in seven of their eight away games this season but have conceded 6 goals in their last three on the road. Maurizio Sarri will be looking for an improvement defensively in this match.
Looking ahead to the team news and Watford will continue without the injured Will Hughes, Andre Gray, Sebastian Prodl, Adalberto Penaranda and Pontus Dahlberg. There are also doubts over Younes Kaboul.
Chelsea have Alvaro Morata back in training but it remains to be seen if the Spaniard can force his way back into the starting XI. Victor Moses and Andreas Christensen are injured.
This should be a great way to round off the Boxing Day fixtures and Watford will be buzzing following their win at West Ham. However, Chelsea will be hurting after their defeat against Leicester and Watford’s record against big teams at home is poor. Chelsea to win and both teams to score seems a good bet.
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