CHELSEA MAINTAIN TOP SPOT WITH WIN
Chelsea are still the team to beat in the Premier League at the moment after they retained top spot on the league standings with the 2-1 away win over Watford. Ahead of the game, Chelsea knew that only a win would suffice for the West Londoners in their quest to stay ahead of title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City and they were able to achieve thefeat with the win over.
Thomas Tuchel made a lot of changes to his starting XI for the Watford game. In total, the Chelsea boss made six changes to his starting XI with the likes of Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Andreas Christensen, club skipper Cesar Azpilicueta and Atletico Madrid loanee Saul Niguez coming in. Spanish international Saul is on a season-long loan deal at European champions Chelsea from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
Chelsea players such as the injured Reece James, Thiago Silva, Jorginho, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyechwere the ones who dropped out of the starting XI from the Chelsea game.
Chelsea struggled for supremacy at the start of the Watford game with so many changes as the Hornets took the game to the Premier League leaders in the opening exchanges, but they could not back their vibrant start with a goal. The Blues survived the onslaught from Watford to take the lead on 30 minutes courtesy Mason Mount who was making his first start since the Leicester City game just after the November international break. It was his first Chelsea goal since he netted three goals during the 7-0 thrashing of Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in October.
Watford were deservedly level at the break courtesy the goal fromthe in-form Emmanuel Dennis a minute before the end of the first half. Chelsea would however have the last laugh when Ziyech came off the bench to win the game for the league leaders in the final quarter. He scored the second Chelsea goal with an excellent left-footed strike off the assist from the impressive Mason Mount.