Chelsea edge past Watford
It was close, but in a heavily delayed game, Chelsea prevailed despite a woeful performance.
Although they took the lead courtesy of Mason Mount, they were quickly pegged back by the Hornets, with Emmanuel Dennis levelling the scoring.
It took a second-half introduction of Hakim Ziyech to break the deadlock, with the Chelsea forward providing what proved to be the winner 20 minutes from time.
Hakim Ziyech now has 5 goal contributions (2 goals, 3 assists) in his last five starts for Chelsea…
Underrated…? 💫 pic.twitter.com/LXKLHpMBLr
— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) December 1, 2021
The result, along with wins for Manchester City and Liverpool, keeps the Blues a point clear at the top of the Premier League, despite injury issues and a defence that is beginning to look leaky by its previously impervious standards.
Better haul Saul
It was one half time change in particular that Chelsea fans took a particular liking to, as Thiago Silva replaced loanee Saul Niguez. It was a second Premier League start for Saul, and on both occasions, he has been hooked at half-time.
And it’s safe to say, Chelsea fans made their feelings very clear on the Spaniard.
Saul subbed at half-time. That’s two PL starts and only lasted 45 mins in each…#ouch
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) December 1, 2021
Saul’s Chelsea loan career ended by Watford. Never saw that coming.
— Mark Worrall (@gate17marco) December 1, 2021
Not quite Bakayoko-levels of struggle at Vicarage Road, but Saul only completed eight(!) passes in that first half, and touched the ball fewer times (19) than any other Chelsea player bar Pulisic and Mount #CFC
— Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) December 1, 2021
Notice how our gameplay has improved since Saul was subbed off? Man was busy persecuting our efforts 😭
— Sir P (@The_AyeniPaul) December 1, 2021
I hope Saul gets the earliest flight back to Madrid
— 💙Champions Of Europe💙⭐⭐ (@Sir_Menace) December 1, 2021
Feel bad for saul but he has to go blud, he has looked out of place everytime
— Jahn 🇦🇷 (@JahnCFC) December 1, 2021
Ohh Saul
Don’t know what to say about you but clearly English football is not for you #WATCHE #CFC @CHELSEAFC
— Chelseablues99💙 🇵🇸 (@agq99) December 1, 2021
Saul goes off and we immediately look more in control. That is not a coincidence. #CFC
— Jay (@RoanokeHokie) December 1, 2021
Don’t want to see Saul Niguez in our midfield anymore #WATCHE
— Mohammud Shakeel Salamath (@ShakeelSalamath) December 1, 2021
Let’s be honest,Saul doesn’t have a future at Chelsea
— STAN (@OBaStann) December 1, 2021
Don’t want to see Saúl in the midfield anymore. If we are that short again in that department, put Mount, Chalobah or Reece there instead.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) December 1, 2021
Saul still hasn’t seen the 2nd half of Premier League football when starting. Best we terminate his loan ASAP.
— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) December 1, 2021
Saul shouldn’t be on the bench. He should just go straight to Spain.
— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) December 1, 2021
Every time I watch saul play football a week is taken off my life
— Tom (@t_reezy1) December 1, 2021
Will Saul still be in west London come the end of the January window?
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 13 | 26 | 30 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 13 | 20 | 29 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 13 | 28 | 28 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 13 | 8 | 23 |
| 5 | Arsenal FC | 13 | -2 | 23 |
| 6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | -6 | 19 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 13 | -1 | 18 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 13 | -2 | 18 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 13 | -3 | 18 |
| 11 | Brentford FC | 13 | 0 | 16 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 14 | -1 | 16 |
| 13 | Aston Villa | 13 | -3 | 16 |
| 14 | Everton FC | 13 | -4 | 15 |
| 15 | Leeds United | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 16 | Southampton FC | 13 | -7 | 14 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 13 | -6 | 13 |
| 18 | Norwich City | 14 | -20 | 10 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 12 | -6 | 9 |
| 20 | Newcastle United | 14 | -14 | 7 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 5 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 5 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 5 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 5 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 5 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 4 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 4 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 4 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 6 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 5 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 5 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 5 |
| Lascelles, Jamaal | Newcastle United | 0 | 5 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 5 |
| Ward, Joel | Crystal Palace | 0 | 5 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 5 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 4 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 4 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 0 | 4 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 4 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 4 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 0 | 4 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 4 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Lowton, Matthew | Burnley FC | 3 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 3 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 3 |
