Watford vs Chelsea LIVE updates: Premier League latest; Hornets pile misery on Conte

Watford 4-1 Chelsea LIVE updates: Express Sport brings you the latest Premier League news from Vicarage Road

94: The Watford fans are chanting at Antonio Conte: “You’re getting sacked in the morning.”

WATFORD 4-1 CHELSEA – PEREYRA

92: Wow, this is incredible stuff. Chelsea have just imploded in the last ten minutes as Watford grab a fourth.

Roberto Pereyra applies a wonderful finish after being played in by Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Conte out?

91: Gerard Deulofeu has scored his first Premier League goal since December 28th 2015 for Everton against Stoke; 770 days ago.

SIX MINUTES ADDED

WATFORD 3-1 CHELSEA – DEULOFEU

88: Game, set and match. I told you they were vulnerable of the break – especially with ten men on the field.

Twitter seems to think this will be the final nail in Antonio Conte’s coffin as Gerard Deulofeu, who’s making his home debut, runs the length of the field before firing past Courtois.

87: All hands on deck for Watford now as Chelsea throw caution to the wind.

It’s long ball stuff with everything being pumped up to Olivier Giroud, but they are leaving themselves vulnerable to the counter.

WATFORD 2-1 CHELSEA – JANMAAT

84: Do me a favour! What is it with the last ten minutes of Premier League games these days?!

The champions weren’t level for long! Daryl Janmaat plays a lovely one-two with Roberto Pereyra and slots into the bottom corner.

83: Almost the perfect answer! Deulofeu Capoue sends Deulofeu through and the stretching Spaniard pokes wide.

WATFORD 1-1 CHELSEA – HAZARD

82: One moment of brilliance from Eden Hazard and Chelsea are on level terms.

The Belgian superstar shifts the ball out of his feet and curls one into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Surely they can’t win this, can they?!

81: Big chance! That was Chelsea’s best attacking moment. Hazard and Fabregas play a neat one-two but Karnezis saves low from the Spaniard.

80: Huge ten minutes for Chelsea. Jamie Carragher said Antonio Conte would explode if Chelsea lost tonight. I’ll warn the fire brigade…

78: Blimey. After 75 minutes, Chelsea have had only five touches in Watford’s penalty area.

Holebas sizes up a left-footed strike from 25 yards but it’s a relatively comfortable catch for Courtois in the end.  

75: Straight up the other end Deulofeu has a great chance to kill the game but he takes 1, 2, 3 touches before being crowded out.

72: Capoue penalised for a handball but the free-kick is wasted as Moses punts it straight back to Karnezis between the sticks for Watford.

69: Doucoure drives forward and forces a good save from Courtois, who tips it wide. The corner comes to nothing.

And three minutes later, Olivier Giroud touches the ball for the first time. He flicks a header narrowly over the bar. Finally, Chelsea have a target man.

66: Here comes Olivier Giroud for his Chelsea debut! The deadline day signing replaces Pedro, who came off with a back injury.

Pereyra on for Richarlison.

Fabregas booked for hacking down Deulofeu. Blues falling to pieces here as Janmaat drags one wide after Luiz inexplicably passed it straight to him.

63: Watford just can’t get that second. Deulofeu controls and sends a curling effort just wide, then moments later Richarlison does the same from a similar position. Good spell for the Hornets.

60: Hour gone and Watford continue to pile it on. Deulofeu jinks past a couple of midfielders before crossing to Richarlison, who nods it wide.

David Luis is booked for kicking out at Zeegelaar, who must think he’s being picked on tonight!

57: Phew, both players are back on their feet now. Eden Hazard collects the ball in the centre-circle and sends Moses free on the right but he’s messed up the cross.

54: Ouch! Zeegelaar is clattered by Moses when the full-back challenges at the back post for a header. The pair stay down and the medical staff are on the field. Looks bad this.

51: David Luiz gets a foot in to prevent a chance for Deeney by sending the ball back to Courtois.

48: They say that N’Golo Kante does the work of two midfielders. He’s going to need to prove that theory tonight.

Chelsea are less sluggish but Watford are still bang on it and causing lots of problems with their pressing.

WATFORD 1-0 CHELSEA

45: And we’re back underway folks. Chelsea have come out with a much better attitude but will that translate to goals? No changes for either side.

HT: Wayne Rooney on MNF: “Watford have been fantastic. Their desire in getting to the ball has been excellent. It is almost a perfect performance for 45 minutes.”

“It probably isn’t the best penalty, it is not the cleanest connection, but Courtois stays in the middle.

“I think they are soft yellow cards, but it comes from Watford’s desire. It is sloppy from Bakayoko. The whole team there is a lack of conviction, energy. That is not what a Chelsea team looks like.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Kobe: Won’t be surprised if Antonio Conte is not on the sidelines after the second half starts. Bakayoko is the worst midfielder in all sports including table tennis.

Tom: Every single player has being poor today and that includes Eden Hazard. I believe the players have given up on Antonio Conte.

Nathan: Bakayoko is the worst Chelsea player I have seen in all my 20 years of watching Chelsea.

WATFORD 1-0 CHELSEA

HT: Very worrying times for Chelsea. Troy Deeney’s penalty has given the hosts the lead, while Bakayoko has been sent off.

44: Where on earth do Chelsea go from here? Antonio Conte’s side are a man down and they look completely lost.

Deeney booked for chopping down Pedro.

43: All three of Troy Deeney’s Premier League goals this season have been penalties against ‘big six’ sides (Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea). Cojones.

WATFORD 1-0 CHELSEA – DEENEY

42: Things go from bad to worse for Chelsea as Gerard Deulofeu is brought down inside the area by Courtois. I don’t think we’ll need to debate that one too much.

Troy Deeney grabs the ball, places it down and sends Courtois the wrong way with a thumping finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

PENALTY TO WATFORD

41: I’ve done the maths and it looks like Eden Hazard is going to have to score a wonderbang for Chelsea to have any chance of scoring. Nothing coming from the Premier League champions.

38: Richarlison plays a clever one-two with Doucoure before firing in a low shot from 25 yards. Courtois is equal to it.

The Hornets are trying to capitalise on the extra man towards the end of this half.

35: Victor Moses gets a reprieve. It’s actually Willian who’s heading off. Fabregas is brought on to beef up the midfield.

32: I can see Cesc Fabregas warming up on the sidelines. I think Victor Moses will probably be the one to make way. Not often a Chelsea player is sent off and it might actually help the team…

WATFORD 0-0 CHELSEA – RED CARD

30: Chelsea are down to 10 men after Bakayoko is shown his second yellow card for a foul. 

The ball got away from him in midfield and he’s clattered into Richarlison to try and win it back.

Nothing sinister in it, but it was clumsy.

29: Woodwork! Pedro hooks the ball against the post but Mike Dean penalises Moses for a handball inside the area. As you were folks.

28: I think there’s a good chance that Monaco completely mugged Chelsea off with Tiémoué Bakayoko. The £40m signing looks way off the pace tonight and collects a booking for lashing out at Capoue after losing it in midfield.

25: Wait a minute, Chelsea have scored a league-high 13 headed goals this season but Olivier Giroud is on the bench? Stick him on, Antonio! Blues struggling to find any kind of rhythm.

22: What a ridiculously frantic three minutes. 

Bakayoko gives the ball cheaply (not for the first time) to Richarlison, who looks certain to score until a last-gasp sliding tackle from Cahill.

Chelsea break the other end with Hazard playing a lovely ball over to Moses, who proceeds to trip over the ball when about to pull the trigger.

19: Antonio Conte looks a little anxious on the touchline. He’s right to be. Watford have been livelier and created the better chances with Chelsea looking pretty lacklustre.

No sign of a BACKLASH from that Bournemouth defeat.

16: These misses must be infectious… Chelsea’s first chance of the night falls to Willian, who blazes over from just inside the Watford penalty area. 

15: How’s he missed?! Azpilicueta completely loses track of Deeney allowing the striker a free hit at a corner, but he’s shanked it wide.

12: Ah Gerard Deulofeu, how we’ve missed you.

The Spaniard makes a terrific run in from the right, ignores all of his colleagues and bangs one into the side-netting from an impossible angle.

9: Looks like a very simple plan from Watford this evening. Deeney bruises Luiz and Cahill while Richarlison and Deulofeu cut in from the flanks.

Azpilicueta clears a hopeful cross into the area and Doucoure drags it wide from the edge of the box.

6: Nearly a suicidal pass from Bakayoko, who passes it blind back to Courtois and Deulofeu nearly capitalises. The goalkeeper was quickly off his line.

3: Chelsea fans are right behind Antonio Conte. Finally he gets that vote of confidence he was asking for as supporters sing: “Antonio, Antonio, Antoniooooooo.”

Watford are screaming for a penalty after a Watford header strikes Gary Cahill’s arm. Mike Dean isn’t interested. Looked way too close to the centre-back in fairness.

WATFORD 0-0 CHELSEA

1: We’re underway folks! It’s bloody freezing in Watford. So cold that Javi Gracia and Antonio Conte are both wearing snoods. I thought those things were SO 2016…

CONTE WILL ‘EXPLODE’ IF CHELSEA LOSE…

19:55: That’s according to Jamie Carragher.

“To lose 3-0 at home to Bournemouth, it’s the scoreline more than anything, I think Bournemouth won at Chelsea a couple of years ago, but 3-0 is a bad one, certainly against a team so defensively solid as Chelsea,” Carragher said on Sky Sports News.

“You just feel if Chelsea were to lose tonight, you feel it could just explode with the manager’s interview afterwards or the next few days in press conferences. 

“So it feels like they’re always one defeat away from a crisis at this moment Chelsea.

“When you consider they are the champions and are fourth in the table, can go third tonight, still in the Champions League. It possibly sums up Chelsea as a football club.”

WATFORD vs CHELSEA

19:50: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s folks. Saves you from scrolling through my ramblings.

Watford XI: Karnezis, Janmaat, Prodl, Mariappa, Zeegelaar, Holebas, Capoue, Richarlison, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Subs: Bachmann, Ndong, Gray, Lukebakio, Carrillo, Pereyra, Mukena.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Moses, Cahill, Luiz, Azplicueta, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Kante, Pedro, Willian, Hazard.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Giroud, Emerson, Hudson-Odoi.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Corey: Glad to see Luiz back starting and great to see Callum Hudson-Odoi keeping his place in the squad, well deserved! Hopefully the 2 new signing can get some game time also.

Shane: Am I only one thinking the signings Conte made with Emerson and Giroud aren’t the ones he wanted as he’s not playing either tonight, even though we need them to start!

Craig: David Luiz… He can win you a game with a great performance. Then again, he can lose his head. Either way, it’s good to see him back.

HAVE YOUR SAY

19:43: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSpo

NO PRESSURE

19:40: Watford boss Javi Gracia expects his three January signings to hit the ground running and transform their fortunes.

“Now the transfer window is closed I am very happy with the players now with me,” he said. “We improve the level of players that we have and I hope the new players can help us improve the level of the team.

“Now we have three new players with Deulofeu, Lukebakio and Ndong, three players in three positions we need to improve and I’m confident they will give us good results with games.”

Deulofeu is the only one starting tonight, so I guess he’s talking to YOU, Gerard…

WAZZA IN THE HOUSE

19:35: Wayne Rooney has joined Jamie Carragher for a bit of Monday Night Football.

I didn’t think he would go through with it after Everton’s 5-1 battering at Arsenal on Saturday evening.

Anyway, Rooney has backed Chelsea for a top-four finish despite their recent poor form.

“I think Chelsea are a great team,” Rooney said on Sky Sports.

“I think they will make the top four definitely. I think obviously there seems to be a few issues with Antonio Conte but I’m sure they’ll get sorted out and they’ve got enough quality there to finish in the top four.”

WATFORD WOES…

19:30: The Hornets aren’t exactly having a great time of things themselves.

The Hornets have won just one of their six games in 2018 – and that was in the FA Cup!

Here’s another piece of bad news for them…

Watford are winless in their last 13 meetings with Chelsea in all competitions (D3 L10), since a 1-0 win in the Premier League in September 1999.

SUPPORT ME!

19:25: Never heard a manager ask for the dreaded vote of confidence before…

But that’s exactly what Antonio Conte has done amid claims the Chelsea hierarchy are growing frustrated with him at the helm.

“I’d like to have a statement to support against this speculation,” said Conte. “Maybe I’d like that the club prepare a statement to tell the media, ‘I trust in his job, I trust in his work’.”

Will someone from Chelsea please give the damn guy a hug!

ABSENT ALONSO…

19:20: I know, I know. Marcos Alonso’s absence is an absolute disaster for my Fantasy Football team too.

I’ve heard that he’s suffered a minor muscle tweak.

Chelsea were being bombarded on Twitter with questions about the left-back, to which they responded: “Marcos Alonso’s absence from tonight’s game is precautionary.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Harvey: The sad fact is if Olivier Giroud started this match he would demolish Watford’s back three. But Antonio Conte decides Pedro is who we should play…

Tammy: Absolute nightmare game against Bournemouth and Conte starts with almost the same 11. What’s wrong with him?! I just hope he proves everyone wrong.

Olivia: Absolutely love everyone’s optimism about the game tonight… Have some faith. Chelsea usually pull a performance out the bag, when it really matters.

TEAM NEWS – CHELSEA

19:10: Antonio Conte welcomes Willian back to the starting XI.

But there’s no sign of Ross Barkley, Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso, who are all out with injuries.

David Luiz makes his first Premier League start since October, while Victor Moses also returns.

Deadline day signings Olivier Giroud and Emerson Palmieri are fit enough to make the bench.

TEAM NEWS – WATFORD

19:05: Looks like Javi Gracia is matching Chelsea’s formation by playing with three at the back.

He’s made two changes to the side who drew 0-0 with Stoke.

Daryl Janmaat and Marvin Zeegelaar come in for Christian Kabasele and Tom Cleverley.

WATFORD vs CHELSEA

19:00: Olivier Giroud has been named on the bench for Chelsea tonight. There’s also no sign of Marcos Alonso, who is out of the match day squad completely!

Watford XI: Karnezis, Janmaat, Prodl, Mariappa, Zeegelaar, Holebas, Capoue, Richarlison, Doucoure, Deulofeu, Deeney.

Subs: Bachmann, Ndong, Gray, Lukebakio, Carrillo, Pereyra, Mukena.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Moses, Cahill, Luiz, Azplicueta, Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Kante, Pedro, Willian, Hazard.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Fabregas, Drinkwater, Giroud, Emerson, Hudson-Odoi.

TEAM NEWS KLAXON

18:59: I think it’s about time to see the starting XI’s folks. Will Olivier Giroud make his debut?

GOOD EVENING

18:55: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.

Did everyone stay up to watch the Super Bowl last night?

I did, and aside from learning that I have little or no idea about the NFL – I’ve realised I’m past it.

Knew this day would come…

With just four hours, I’ve been sleeping, watching terrible daytime television and plenty of other zombie-like behaviour.

Anyway, we’ve got a cracking match to look forward to this evening as Chelsea make the short trip to Vicarage Road looking to bounce back from last week’s embarrassing home defeat to Bournemouth.

Let’s get going!