Wait, who did Chelsea have to play again and how were they doing?

Watford Home, 17th

The fall of Watford has been almost as impressive as their previous rise. It is hard to believe that this Watford side that finished as runners up in the FA Cup and had Javi Gracia linked to Chelsea has followed it up with a relegation battle.

Nigel Pearson has only barely steadied the ship but the side is still in somewhat of a free fall. This time off may have helped them enough to return to their old form and Chelsea should be weary of a side with nothing to lose and the tools to rebound.

Crystal Palace Away, 11th

Palace is another club that exists in an awkward place. They can go on good stretches of results just as easily as they can on bad ones. They are surely safe from relegation and they could, in theory, push up towards a Europa League spot but that is not really expected of them.

Really, what the Blues can expect will come down to what state Palace is in at the time. If they have fallen away from that Europa League spot, they will not have much motivation for any particular result other than pride. Chelsea will surely still have Champions League on the line so it simply depends on who needs it more.

Sheffield United Away, 7th

Chelsea really needs to get their results in against Villa, West Ham, Watford, and Palace because this match will be too crucial to have it be a six pointer. Sheffield is quite rightfully this season’s tactical darling and they have very much earned their chance at Europa League or more.

They pushed Chelsea hard in the reverse fixture and the same can be expected once again. Their tactics are tricky and unusual, so Lampard will need to be at his very best to see the Blues through this one.