Chelsea vs. Watford
English Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Saturday 26 December 2015
Kick off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Andre Marriner
Match facts:
Chelsea have won seven and lost none of the last eight meetings with Watford in all competitions.
Chelsea are unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League on Boxing Day since 2003, winning six and drawing four matches since then.
Watford have already equalled their entire points tally from their last top flight season in 2006/07 (28).
Odion Ighalo has scored in four successive BPL matches, equalling Troy Deeney’s record for Watford earlier in the season.
If he scores in this match, Ighalo will be the first player to score in five successive top-flight matches for Watford.
Chelsea have lost just three BPL home matches against newly-promoted opposition; 0-1 v AFC Bournemouth in December 2015, 0-1 v Charlton Athletic in April 2001 and 0-2 v Nottingham Forest in January 1995.
In his previous tenure as manager of Chelsea, Guus Hiddink lost just once in all competitions (P22 W16 D5 L1).
Chelsea’s Premier League record: P17 – W5 – D3 – L9
Watford’s Premier League record: P17 – W8 – D4 – L5
Chelsea’s last six: WDLWLW
Watford’s last six: LLWWWW
Chelsea team news:
Gary Cahill could be pushing for a recall to the starting XI, but not many changes are expected for Guus Hiddink’s first game back in charge.
Eden Hazard has not trained with the full group since injuring his hip against Leicester a fortnight ago and may only be fit enough to start from the bench here.
Watford team news:
Valon Behrami made his first Watford appearance in nearly two months as a second half substitute in their 3-0 win over Liverpool last time out and could be pushing for a start here.
Not many changes are expected other than that.
Chelsea (from): Begovic, Blackman, Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Djilobodji, Ivanovic, Rahman, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Traore, Willian, Costa, Kenedy, Pedro, Remy.
Watford (from): Arlauskis, Gilmartin, Gomes, Ake, Belkalem, Britos, Cathcart, Hoban, Holebas, Nyom, Paredes, Prodl, Abdi, Anya, Behrami, Capoue, Dyer, Guedioura, Jurado, Watson, Berghuis, Deeney, Diamanti, Ibarbo, Ighalo, Oulare.
Players to watch: Costa & Ighalo
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Watford
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