Chelsea have not won any of their past three matches, which perfectly exemplifies just how inconsistent Maurizio Sarri’s side have really been this season. They will next host Watford, a side that they have really dominated lately, in a Sunday mid-afternoon Premier League fixture.
Chelsea are moving closer to securing top four/UEFA Champions League qualification, and that might give them more motivation in this match than their opponents, who might have one eye on the May 18 FA Cup final against Manchester City.
The seventh place Hornets might be able to secure European football themselves, depending on who wins the Europa League tournament, and who finishes fourth in the Premier League table.
Watford could earn a berth in next year’s UEL, depending on how it all plays out. So they have a lot to play for this season, in addition to the FA Cup piece of silverware/chance of ruining Manchester City’s treble chances.
The Bank Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction vs Watford
Attack: Eden Hazard, Gonzalo Higuain, Pedro
Midfield: Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante
Defense: Emerson Palmieri, David Luiz, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
Watford FC at Chelsea FC FYIs
Kickoff- Sunday May 5, Stamford Bridge 2pm
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Form guide: Chelsea DDLWW Watford LDWLW
Odds via Bet365: Chelsea 2/5, Draw 15/4, Watford 6/1
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win 68%, Draw 20%, Manchester United win 12%
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Watford 1
Yes, the Blues have had major motivational issues this season, as manager Maurizio Sarri has articulated, but that shouldn’t be an issue here; at all.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.