Premier League: Are the Hornets Heading for More Blues?

Watford vs Chelsea

When you’re bottom of the Premier League there’s only one way you can go, and that’s up!

The problem for Watford is…they have been at the foot of the table for pretty much the whole season so far; and they’ll stay right there for at least another week unless they can beat Frank Lampard’s Chelsea at Vicarage Road on Saturday. It’s the tea-time fixture, and if the afternoon Premier League 2019 results go against them, then even a win may not be enough for the hosts.

This is a club which doesn’t hang around; Quique Sanchez Flores took over at the helm after the owners sacked Javi Garcia early in September, but the Premier League 2019 betting odds still have the Hornets hovering around 1.90 to go down.

And Quique won’t underestimate the immediate task at hand. Chelsea are playing exciting attacking football under Frank Lampard and, on current form, the Blues are looking good for a top-four finish.

Talking Points

Pulisic has arrived!

Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic announced himself on the Premier League stage with a perfect hat-trick in a 2-4 win over Burnley last week. He scored one with his left foot, one with his right foot and a third with his head as the Blues stormed to a seventh successive victory in all competitions. And it was a performance Chelsea fans have been waiting for since his big-money move from the Bundesliga in the summer.

The all American action man has been used sparingly by Lampard, but on a cold, inhospitable evening in East Lancashire, he looked every bit ready for the physical rigours of the Premier League. And that’s great news for his boss, who has made a great start since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the midst of a transfer embargo and after the departure of Eden Hazard.

A midweek Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United ended Chelsea’s winning streak, and the young Blues will be keen to start another run away to the bottom club.

Watford fancy all three points in their Premier League game against Chelsea — Watford’s Adrian Mariappa is shown a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper

Hornets need a hero

Chelsea have their new idol, but Watford’s talisman Troy Deeney has been painfully absent over the past few games after undergoing minor surgery on his knee. He had hoped to be available by the beginning of November but is unlikely to feature. And with midfield general Etienne Capoue also out injured the Hornets have looked woefully lightweight.

While Chelsea have Tammy Abraham scoring for fun, Mason Mount in inspired form and now Pulisic grabbing the headlines, Watford doesn’t have a single player who has found the net more than once in the opening ten games. Among others Andre Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure have both scored, but Deeney’s return can’t come soon enough.

The Hornets suffered the cruellest of blows in their search for that elusive Premier League win. They were hanging on to a one-goal lead late into the recent game against Spurs when Dele Alli broke their hearts with a controversial VAR assisted goal.

There is one thing they can be happy about. Their 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Manchester City has been outdone by Southampton. The sad Saints were battered 0-9 on their home patch by Leicester City last week, and that will take some recovering from.

Watford have to look for small mercies at the moment!

History

The Hornets have had limited success in their meetings with Chelsea, winning two and drawing three of the 17 clashes since the turn of the millennium. The Blues did the double over the North Londoners last season with a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge in May, following a 1-2 triumph at Vicarage Road.

A year ago, things were going well for the Hornets, they were flying high in seventh place with 19 points, but they have had an unhelpful habit of tailing off in recent seasons. Do that this time and Watford are doomed.

Betting Tip

	Watford vs Chelsea	Over 2.75 goals @ 1.79
	November 03, 01:30 (GMT+8)

At 1.65 to win the Blues are clear favourites to take all three points away from Vicarage Road, with the latest SBOBET odds pitching Watford at 4.80, and the draw is available at 3.95.

Chelsea have been scoring for fun, hitting four on their last two away league games, to Burnley and Southampton, and I fancy them for at least two against the Hornets who share the worst goal difference in the league with…the Saints!

A repeat of the scoreline, here at Vicarage Road last May, looks like a good outside bet, with 1-2 the most likely result at odds of 7.00.