Watford v Chelsea: Blues to get back to their best at Vicarage Road
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Watford host an out-of-sorts Chelsea at Vicarage Road tonight in another intriguing episode of Premier League football.
Both sides could really do with a win with Watford just three points outside the relegation places. Liverpool have now leapfrogged Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are hovering just below.
Watford are underdogs in the match odds at 5/1, with Chelsea 6/10 favourites and the draw 3/1.
Looking at the form table over the last eight games and the Blues haven’t actually been that bad. The 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth was their first league loss in eight games.
We can’t desert the Stamford Bridge outfit so easily. After all, they’re the second-best away side in the division so far this term.
On the other hand, Watford have pretty much imploded in recent months, winning just one of their last 12 league fixtures. And the Hornets haven’t really gotten the new manager bounce expected from Javi Gracia’s appointment.
Chelsea have to be considered value for the win at 6/10 here. Antonio Conte’s side have the best defence on the road in the league, conceding just nine goals away from home.
That includes 4-0 wins at Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and Brighton and Hove Albion. Plus Watford have failed to score in their last three games in all competitions.
Chelsea to win to nil is a nicely-priced 8/5, and the Blues to score 3+ goals is a generous-looking 21/10.
Olivier Giroud could make his debut for West London club after his switch from Arsenal on deadline day. It will be interesting to see how the France international fits into the side and how he meshes with Eden Hazard.
While Giroud 11/10 to score anytime, it’s the 5/4 on the mercurial Hazard that strikes us as a better bet. He scored a brace in each of those 4-0 wins over West Brom and Brighton.
When Chelsea need him most, the brilliant Belgian generally obliges.
All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
