Watford vs Chelsea – Betting Tips and Premier League Preview
Supporters of Watford must be wondering when their team will next beat a Premier League outfit after losing 2-0 at Everton in midweek EFL Cup action. Winless in league action this term, the Hornets lost their last three games last season and were then hammered 6-0 in the FA Cup final by Manchester City. A home game with Chelsea will not be particularly welcome given the current dominant form of the Blues with the visitors growing in confidence following a relatively poor start to the campaign. Watford could face a difficult Saturday evening if they don’t concentrate for the full ninety minutes, and their defence is expected to be given another stern examination.
That poor end-of-season form plus losing their three opening games of the season ultimately cost Javi Gracia his job as Watford manager with Quique Sanchez Florez returning to his former job in the Vicarage Road home dugout. The Spaniard witnessed the team drawing 2-2 with Arsenal in his first game before an 8-0 hammering at Manchester City. Since that calamity, Watford have netted just one Premier League goal when sharing the points Tottenham, but have remained unbeaten in three competitive fixtures on home soil. A 2-0 midweek EFL Cup loss at Everton ensures that they can concentrate on collecting a few leagues points for the remainder of 2019.
Before hosting Manchester United in midweek EFL Cup action, visitors Chelsea had won seven successive competitive games but a much-changed team were beaten 2-1 by the Red Devils. A more familiar Blues line-up will seek a return to winning ways in this away match with six consecutive victories secured on away soil this term. At least three goals have been netted by Chelsea in each of four Premier League triumphs on the road although both teams have scored in those games. Frank Lampard’s young team is gradually gaining the confidence of those Blues players of previous title-winning seasons with Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount among others proving that they are capably top-flight players.
01.05.19 | Chelsea3:0Watford | PL |
26.12.18 | Watford1:2Chelsea | PL |
05.02.18 | Watford4:1Chelsea | PL |
21.10.17 | Chelsea4:2Watford | PL |
15.05.17 | Chelsea4:3Watford | PL |
Team News
Watford have several injury concerns with Danny Welbeck, Domingos Quina, Troy Deeney all sidelined for this match. Isaac Success and Etienne Capoue could return but there are further doubts regarding Ismaila Sarr and Tom Cleverley.
Antonio Rudiger (hip), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (calf), Marco Van Ginkel (knee) and Andreas Christensen (hamstring) are expected to be unavailable for Chelsea whereas N’Golo Kante (groin) and Ross Barkley (ankle) are further fitness concerns.
Prediction
It would be easy to predict a Chelsea away victory given the current form of both teams, but it is worth noting that the Blues have netted in both halves during each of their four Premier League victories away from Stamford Bridge. Since an opening weekend 4-0 loss at Manchester United, Lampard’s players have also failed to find the net in just one other competitive fixture so it would appear that consistent goal-scoring is becoming a habit for the team. Therefore, it may be wise to place a bet on Chelsea to be leading Half-time and Full-time priced at 8/5 with bet365.
A second pick is for Chelsea to register a Clean Sheet offered at 7/4 by bet365. Although Ajax are the only team not to score against Chelsea on their travels this term, it should be remembered that Watford have become goal-shy in recent weeks. The continued absence of Troy Deeney has affected the Hornet’s attack and they have failed to score in five of their last seven matches. Watford have also scored in just one home fixture in league action this term.
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