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Premier League | Gameweek 19
Dec 26, 2018 at 7.30pm UK
 
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How Chelsea could line up against Watford

Ahead of the Boxing Day clash between Watford and Chelsea, Sports Mole looks at how Maurizio Sarri's side could line up at Vicarage Road.

Chelsea head into their Premier League encounter with Watford having suffered a surprise defeat to Leicester City at the weekend.

The Blues would have expected to maintain their three-point advantage over fifth-placed Arsenal, but a Jamie Vardy goal gave the Foxes all three points at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are now 11 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, and Maurizio Sarri will be aware that his side require a win at Vicarage Road.

Sarri has a number of selection dilemmas ahead of the game on Boxing Day, and here Sports Mole looks at how his team could line up against the Hornets.



CHEXI VS. WAT

Out: Andreas Christensen (hamstring), Victor Moses (back), Marco van Ginkel (knee)
Doubtful: Alvaro Morata (knee)

Olivier Giroud is likely to be handed a recall to the starting lineup, with Chelsea having failed to score using Eden Hazard as a false nine against Leicester.

Willian could be the player to drop out of the team, while Mateo Kovacic should be replaced by either Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Sarri could also make alterations in defence in order to cope with the busy festive period, with Gary Cahill a potential inclusion in the centre of the backline.

Alvaro Morata has returned to training after a knee injury but will only be considered for the bench, while Andreas Christensen will sit out the game with a minor hamstring injury.

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Maurizio Sarri watches on during the pre-season friendly between Chelsea and Arsenal on August 1, 2018
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


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