Chelsea FC make the trip to Vicarage Road this evening as they square off with Watford in some midweek Premier League action.
With under an hour until kick-off, Guus Hiddink and Quique Sanchez Flores have confirmed their Chelsea and Watford teams respectively for what should be a competitive contest.
Watford
Heurelho Gomes;
Juan Carlos Paredes, Sebastian Prodl, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas;
Valon Behrami, Ben Watson, Etienne Capoue, Jurado;
Troy Deeney (C), Odion Ighalo
Subs: Pantilimon, Nyom, Suarez, Amrabat, Guedioura, Anya, Abdi
Chelsea FC
Thibaut Courtois;
Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry (C), Cesar Azpilicueta;
John Obi Mikel, Nemanja Matic;
Willian, Cesc Fabregas, Oscar;
Diego Costa
Subs: Begovic, Cahill, Baba Rahman, Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy, Traore, Hazard
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Guus Hiddink makes four changes to the side that cruised past MK Dons 5-1 at the weekend. Kurt Zouma returns to the starting line-up after he was rested on Sunday as Gary Cahill makes way. The perennial solid player Cesar Azpilicueta also comes back into the side after Baba Rahman was gifted some game time a few days ago.
There is some shuffling in midfield as the euphoria accompanying a Ruben Loftus-Cheek start subsides. The young Englishman is relegated to his usual spot on the bench as Hiddink’s favourite midfielder, John Obi Mikel, is selected in the initial eleven. The Nigerian has been in decent form since being called in from the cold, but Blues fans would have undoubtedly loved to see Loftus-Cheek get another 90 minutes.
Mikel’s inclusion means that he will comprise the holding duo alongside Nemanja Matic. As a result, Cesc Fabregas will take up the more advanced position. His best work has been from the deeper spot due to the time and space that he is afforded so it will be interesting if he can pull something out of hat further up the field.
After his hat-trick, Oscar continues on the wing, enabling him to cut in and fulfill a more expressive role. The Brazilian will be high on confidence and hopefully it will yield some material return.
Willian also starts, despite some injury concerns. He did not start on Sunday, but he was rather unnecessarily brought on with the result already secured, only to pick up a knock. Fortunately, he will be able to play through whatever minor trouble it is. This does notably mean that Eden Hazard starts on the bench, despite being back to full fitness and ending his goal drought against MK Dons. An intriguing move from Hiddink.
On the other side of affairs, Quique Sanchez Flores makes a whopping six changes to the team that squeezed past Nottingham Forest 1-0. Two switches at the back see Juan Carlos Paredes and Jose Holebas come in for Allan Nyom and Nathan Ake respectively. The latter is forced as Ake is not permitted to play against his parent club.
There are three changes in midfield as Anya, Guedioura and Abdi make way for Valon Behrami, Etienne Capoue and Jurado. The ever talismanic Odion Ighalo also returns to the starting line-up after scoring the winner as a sub on Saturday afternoon.
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These are the teams, now leave us your thoughts. Sound off with your predictions in the comments below!