Chelsea vs Watford 05/05/19

5 May 2019

After a 1-1 away draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, Chelsea return to the Premier League action as they host Watford to Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

Winless in their last three PL games (D2, L1), the hosts sit just fourth in the table, two points above fifth-placed Arsenal, with two league fixtures left to go. But, the Blues are unbeaten in their previous seven home games across all competitions (W5, D2), with Maurizio Sarri’s men bagging 2+ match goals six times during the run. What’s more, the Pensioners have won seven of eight competitive H2Hs with Watford at this venue in the 21st century (W7, D1), netting precisely four goals in both of their previous triumphs here. Still, Sarri’s potential worry will be that his players have failed to keep a clean sheet in five consecutive outings across all competitions, allowing over 1.5 match goals three times in the process.

Meanwhile, the visitors have endured mixed fortunes in their last five PL clashes (W2, D1, L2), as their chances of closing a four-point gap on seventh-placed Wolverhampton seem to be fading away. Watford’s defensive frailties have seen them concede at least one goal per match in all 12 of their previous competitive encounters, which seems to be their main problem ahead of this fixture. The Hornets’ three-game PL road losing run has been brought to a halt as they’ve pulled off a 2-1 win over Huddersfield at their last league road trip. Also, all five of Watford’s previous PL away meetings have produced over 2.5 goals, with four of them featuring goals on both ends.