The English Premier League continues this weekend, so take a look at our tips and predictions for the Chelsea vs. Watford. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
Chelsea vs. Watford
Three-Way: 1: Chelsea -227; X: +450 Draw; 2: Watford +1000
Spread -1.5: Chelsea +112; Watford -114
Total +3: Over +102; Under -109
CHELSEA
The Blues are having difficulties to record a win lately as they are on a negative run of three matches without a victory, including consecutive defeats in the Premier League. Chelsea first suffered a 0-1 home loss to the title contenders and big rivals Man City, thanks to the goal from a former Blue Kevin De Bruyne. Alvaro Morata sustained a thigh injury in the 35th minute, which minimized Chelsea’s chance of scoring, but Antonio Conte’s reaction was unorthodox, and the fans are blaming him for a loss. Namely, the Italian tactician substituted injured Morata with Willian instead of introducing a striker such is MichyBatshuayi, and that decision angered the fans who voiced their displeasure after the clash. With only Eden Hazard playing up front, Chelsea struggled to get near to the goal, and just a couple of attempts on target was far from enough to beat the Citizens.
The problems continued in the following round when Chelsea visited Selhurst Park, where they were clear favorites against the struggling Crystal Palace, who didn’t score a single goal in the first seven matches. However, the Eagles opened account against the reigning champions when nobody expected it, after Cesar Azpilicueta’s unfortunate own goal in the 11th minute, and from that point, it seemed that Chelsea wasn’t able to respond appropriately, despite Bakayoko’s equalizer only seven minutes later. Wilfried Zaha, who returned to the pitch after being sidelined for two months with an injury, scored a winning goal for the hosts on the brink of halftime, and the Blues failed to bounce back, so they fell short against the worst team in the league.
Alvaro Morata’s absence was quite evident, but the Spaniards made a quick return to the Champions League encounter with Roma at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Chelsea took an early, 2-0 lead thanks to David Luiz’s long-range shot and Eden Hazard’s neat finish, and it looked that the Blues are on a course to record a significant victory. However, the Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov went past Azpilicueta and beat Courtois with the help of a slight deflection from Gary Cahill. In the second half, Edin Dzeko scored a brace in the space of six minutes, and Chelsea fans weren’t that happy on the stands, but Eden Hazard came as a savior in the 75th minute and settled the final score – 3:3. It is clear that something isn’t working at Stamford Bridge, but Conte’s team will have an opportunity to return to winning ways against the Hornets on Saturday.
Chelsea has played 13 games so far in this campaign, recording seven wins, two draws, and four defeats, with a goal difference of 30:15, which is around 3.5 goals per contest on average. When it comes to matches at Stamford Bridge, the Blues have not been very successful as they recorded just three victories in seven outings, clearly not enough for the holding champions of England. They even failed to score in two of those seven games, and allowed five goals in the previous three, and has to be a concern for Conte prior to this tilt with the Hornets. However, Chelsea has a quite positive record when welcoming Watford, as they without a home loss in the last 17 years, winning six, along with one draw. The previous season’s clash was one of the most exciting matches of the 2016/17 campaign, as Cesc Fabregas’ 88th-minute goal secured a 4-3 in for the Blues, and giving the current form of the respective teams, we could see bung of goals on this one as well.
Alvaro Morata is still the team’s top scorer with seven goals to his name, and although he looked a bit rusty against Roma, it’s only a matter of time when he’ll start scoring again, and this matchup could be somewhat favorable for the former Real Madrid striker. MichyBatshuayi is following him with five goals thus far, while several players chipped in with a couple of goals, including Eden Hazard who scored his first and second goal of the season against Roma. The Spanish right-back Cesar Azpilicueta leads Chelsea in assists as he posted four dishes, while Fabregas and Hazard have three assists each. Conte will be without Victor Moses, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, but the gaffer also cannot count on Danny Drinkwater and N’GoloKante, who will be back in the next few weeks.
WATFORD
The Hornets have been excellent this season, and the only black spot is a massive 0-6 home loss to Manchester City, but they responded well and managed to win two in the next three matches. Watford is currently in a three-game undefeated run and is sitting in the high 4th place with seven points behind the leaders Man City. Marco Silva’s side is the most pleasant surprise so far in the season as they suffered just one defeat in eight rounds, and if they continue playing at this level, the Hornets could hope for the European football next term.
Following that heavy loss to City, Watford beat Swansea at Liberty Stadium thanks to the 90th-minute goal from the exciting Brazilian Richarlison, and the same player saved a point at West Brom, only this time, he scored in the 95th minute! Richarlison was a key performer in a 2-1 victory over Arsenal last weekend even though he wasn’t on the score-sheet, but earned a penalty which Troy Deeney converted into the goal in the 71st minute. Tom Cleverley’s fantastic volley in added time completed the comeback and Watford are coming to Stamford Bridge on the wings of that victory, so Chelsea will have a lot to do to beat the red-hot Hornets.
Watford played nine games in the 2017/18 season, recording four wins, three draws, and a pair of defeats, with a goal difference of 15:16, which is almost 3.5 goals per contest on average. Interestingly, the Hornets are without a loss away from Vicarage Road as they won three out of four matches, scoring a couple of goals in each of them, and conceding only three. Chelsea must be aware of Watford’s away record, but the visitors didn’t have a lot of luck at Stamford Bridge in recent years.
The left-winger Richarlison and midfielder AbdoulayeDoucoure are the team’s leading scorers with three goals to their respective names, while Etienne Capoue is behind them with a couple of goals. Richarlison and the left-back Jose Holebas recorded a pair of assists each, and there is no doubt that the young Brazilian will represent the greatest danger to Thibaut Courtois and Chelsea defense. Marco Silva will be without several players for this tilt as he cannot count on Isaac Success (knee), Nathaniel Chalobah (knee), Younes Kaboul (thigh), Tommie Hoban (cruciate ligament rupture), and Craig Cathcart (knee), while Sebastian Prodl is doubtful, and Stefano Okaka suspended.
Chelsea vs. Watford – Match Prediction
Chelsea are far from convincing lately, and I opt not to back them on this one, so I will go with goals as I believe Watford is good enough to find the net at least once at Stamford Bridge.
MY PICK: Over 3 goals (+102)
