Chelsea host Watford at Stamford Bridge in this season’s Boxing Day fixture, with Guus Hiddink taking charge of his first game back at the club.
The Blues will be looking to build on last Saturday’s 3-1 win against Sunderland, and Watford will be hoping to continue an impressive run of form, which has seen them win their last four games.
The last time the two teams met was at Stamford Bridge in January, when Chelsea won 3-0 in the third round of the FA Cup. The goals that day came from Willian, Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma, three players that will be hoping to start on Saturday.
Team News:
Guus Hiddink will expect to have a full squad of players to pick from before Boxing Day, as he will surely look to play a full strength team against newly promoted Watford. Eden Hazard and Radamel Falcao, Chelsea’s only two injured players, are expected to return to training this week and will be assessed before Saturday’s fixture. After strong performances against Sunderland last week, the likes Pedro and Oscar will be ready to step up in Hazard’s absence should he not be fit enough to start.
The visiting side will be without one key player on Saturday. On-loan Chelsea defender Nathan Ake has been one of Watford’s stars of the season so far, starting nine of his team’s last 10 matches, scoring his first Premier League goal against Liverpool last week. His absence, outlined by the terms of his loan agreement which ban him from playing against his parent club, will be a huge blow for the away side. However, Watford have no other injuries or suspensions, and the strike partnership of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney will be hoping to cause the home side some problems.
Stats:
Chelsea have won seven of their last eight meetings with Watford in all competitions, winning the last fixture 3-0 in January.
The hosts are unbeaten in Boxing Day fixtures since 2003, winning six and drawing four of their matches.
Guus Hiddink lost just one of his 22 matches in charge of Chelsea during his last spell as interim manager in 2009. He won 16 of these matches and drew the other five.
Writer’s Prediction:
Chelsea 2-1 Watford
