Event of the Day: Watford versus Chelsea

Our event of the day is the Premier League match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road in Watford. Watford are currently 11th in the league table with 27 points, while Chelsea sit in the fourth place, holding the last of the Champions League spots for next season. They have 50 points and with a win today could overtake Liverpool and move into third spot. The Hornets are winless in their previous five Premier League games, having last beaten Leicester City 2-1 at home on Boxing Day; and haven’t scored in their last three fixtures. Following their FA Cup 1-0 exit away to Southampton last weekend, they earned a point in a goalless draw at Stoke City last Wednesday in the league.

The Blues reached the last 16 in the FA Cup with a convincing 3-0 home victory against Newcastle United last weekend, before suffering an unexpected home league 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday. Watford have failed to beat their Greater London rivals in 13 of their previous encounters – their last triumph came way back in September 1999 (1-0 at home). In October, they had a 2-1 lead at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea turned the game around and won 4-2. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and centre-back Craig Cathcart from the hosts will miss out on today’s clash due to back and knee injuries, respectively. Midfielder Didier Ndong, on loan from Sunderland, is suspended for a red card. For the visitors, attacker Álvaro Morata is unavailable because of a back problem, while defender Andreas Christensen has a hamstring injury. January additions Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmieri might be in the match day squad if proven to be match-fit. This should be an exciting duel at Vicarage Road tonight.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Stars are currently have 64 points from their 53 matches, while the Rangers have 55 points from their 52 games - the teams met in December at Madison Square Garden with the Stars victorious after a shootout. South Africa Women and India Women play their 1st ODI at the Diamond Oval in Kimberly. Afghanistan and Zimbabwe face off in a Twenty20 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah. In the NBA, the Indiana Pacers meet the Washington Wizards at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It’s the first day of the Open Sud de France at the Arena Montpellier in Montpellier. In Serie A, Lazio host Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and in La Liga, Las Palmas take on Málaga at the Estadio Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Premier League