Chelsea vs. Watford: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
As one era ended last week with the departure of Jose Mourinho, another begins at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.
Guus Hiddink has returned to west London as Chelsea attempt to save their season and pull away from a relegation scrap.
Hiddink will be desperate for a win against Watford. Not only will it mean a valuable three points collected, it'll get his reign as interim manager off to a flying start.
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Chelsea have needed some impetus this term, so everyone connected with the club will be hoping Hiddink can provide it.
He's done it in the past, of course. Hiddink was Chelsea's interim manager in 2009 when he took a struggling team to the Champions League semi-finals, also winning the FA Cup and finishing third in the Premier League behind Manchester United and Liverpool.
This is a different Chelsea, though.
The team Hiddink inherited six years ago was positioned fourth in the table and 10 points off the top. Now Chelsea currently sit 15th and 20 points behind leaders Leicester City.
A shot at the title has long since gone, but Hiddink has already explained that he has one eye on the Champions League places and a top-four finish.
"Generally, I set targets: the target is, because mathematically it's possible, to get in fourth position," he said ahead of Watford's visit. "To do that we have to be exclusively good. If the target is impossible, don't set it, but I did put that to them.
"Then the Champions League; and then the FA Cup. There are three targets still to go for. On top of that, or as a foundation of that, the players must show now what they're capable of."
Victory over Watford will be the first step in that process.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, December 26
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
TV Info: Match of the Day, BBC1 (10.30 p.m. UK only)/NBC Sports (U.S. only)
Live Stream: No UK live stream/NBCSN (U.S. only)
Last Five Games
| Nov. 29 | Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Chelsea |
| Dec. 5 | Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth |
| Dec. 9 | Chelsea 2-0 Porto |
| Dec. 14 | Leicester City 2-1 Chelsea |
| Dec. 19 | Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland |
| Nov. 21 | Watford 1-2 Manchester United |
| Nov. 28 | Aston Villa 2-3 Watford |
| Dec. 5 | Watford 2-0 Norwich City |
| Dec. 12 | Sunderland 0-1 Watford |
| Dec. 20 | Watford 3-0 Liverpool |
Predicted Lineups
Unusually for this time of the season, Chelsea and Watford have close to fully fit squads.
The Blues are sweating over the fitness of Eden Hazard heading into this game, with Hiddink confirming on Wednesday that the Belgian only had a short training session as he continued his comeback from the hip injury suffered against Leicester City.
Radamel Falcao also remains a doubt.
As for the visitors, Joel Ekstrand remains on the sidelines, and there is a doubt over Sebastian Prodl's fitness.
Nathan Ake is ineligible as he's on loan from Chelsea.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Diego Costa
Watford (4-4-2): Gomes; Nyom, Prodl, Britos, Holebas; Abdi, Capoue, Watson, Jurado; Ighalo, Deeney
Key Players
Given Watford's form of late and the football they have played this season, it's vital Chelsea starve them of possession.
They need to play the game in the opposition half and ensure Watford retreat, worrying more about protecting their own goal than scoring in Chelsea's.
To do that, Cesc Fabregas will need to be on form. At his best, the Spaniard dictates the flow and tempo of games, but he hasn't done that anywhere near enough this term.
If he can turn Watford's midfield, it'll mean Chelsea getting much more joy than most teams have been getting.
The Hornets will still be a threat on the counter, but it's through controlling the tempo that this game will be won.
Odion Ighlao
The Nigerian has been a revelation for Watford this season, helping the newly promoted side take the Premier League by storm.
He already has 12 goals in 17 league matches, with five of them coming in his last four outings.
With Troy Deeney alongside him, the Nigerian is a massive threat and will ask questions of what has been a shaky Chelsea defence this season.
The concern for John Terry, et al, is that Ighalo isn't your traditional target man who can be contained physically. He's nimble, likes running at players and demonstrates excellent movement to find space.
He's being doing it regularly this term, and there is no reason why he can't continue his excellent form at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea must stop him at all costs.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Watford
Odds
Home Win: -278
Away Win: +741
Draw: +365
First Goalscorer: Diego Costa (4/1)
Odds via Odds Shark and Oddschecker
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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