Chelsea vs Watford result: Loftus-Cheek, Luiz and Higuain score as Chelsea beat Watford
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea hosted Watford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues have their Champions League chances firmly in their own hands after they battled to a deserved win over the Hornets at Stamford Bridge. A tepid first-half was put behind them in the second with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain all scoring to move Maurizio Sarri's side up to third above Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for the top four.
We'll have all the latest throughout the afternoon here.
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Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Premier League.
There are three big games this afternoon with Huddersfield Town vs Manchester United and Chelsea vs Watford first up.
Team news incoming veeeeeeery shortly.
Our focus today is on the race for the top four, with three of the contenders in action. It is the race seemingly no-one wants to win, Tottenham leaving the door ajar once again in a dramatic defeat at Bournemouth yesterday.
Chelsea can move above Spurs into third with a victory this afternoon, while Manchester United and Arsenal need to win to realistically keep the race alive.
Team News - Chelsea vs Watford
Maurizio Sarri makes two changes to the team that drew at Manchester United last weekend, Andreas Christensen in for the injured Antonio Rudiger and Pedro preferred to Willian in the front three.
Javi Gracia also makes two changes, with Etienne Capoue missing out with a groin injury. Troy Deeney returns.
Team News - Huddersfield vs Manchester United
Jan Siewert brings Aaron Mooy, Chris Löwe and Alex Pritchard back into the Huddersfield starting lineup.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer follows suit with three changes of his own, a rare start for Alexis Sanchez the headline team news of the two early afternoon fixtures.
So David De Gea maintains his place between the sticks for Manchester United, thanks in part to the most untimely of injuries to Sergio Romero:
This could well be Eden Hazard's final Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, certainly for the time being at least, with Real Madrid circling and a summer move looking increasingly likely.
The Belgian has carried Maurizio Sarri's somewhat dysfunctional side at times this season, and that they are in such a strong position with regards to Champions League qualification is testament to his work.
Two wins will secure Chelsea third place, and with the Europa League still very much up for grabs, a season that has at times felt on the precipice of disaster could yet be a very successful one.
For Manchester United the situation is more complex, and firmly out of their hands. They face two of the relegated clubs to close the season and thus Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be confident of securing six more points, which would take United to 71.
Spurs need only one more point to get to that mark and have a vastly superior goal difference, while Arsenal on 66 points need only to match United's results to finish ahead of them, but face a tough trip to Turf Moor on the final day.
Wolves' win against Fulham yesterday has all but secured seventh spot, which means Watford's primary objective as the season comes to a close is to stave off the threat of West Ham, who they face next week, and secure what would be a richly-deserved top ten finish.
A win today at Stamford Bridge would be enough to ensure such a finish.
And what of Huddersfield, the fourth side in action in this early window.
Jan Siewert's side have earned just three points since the German's arrival in January, Siewert failing to galvanise a squad short on quality and spirit. Fulham's late charge has distanced the Terriers, rather, who will finish bottom by a distance and are already preparing for next season.
A famous victory over Manchester United would be an awfully fine end-of-season gift to their excellent supporters, though, and there are vulnerabilities in the visitors' side.
Juninho Bacuna starts for Huddersfield in midfield today, still looking to secure his first victory with the club at the end of a season where, in actuality, the Dutchman has impressed individually.
Older brother Leandro has also endured a season of difficulty with Cardiff's relegation confirmed yesterday, and it'll be a family holiday of reflection and commiseration when the season come to an end.
Hey ho, Bacuna Matata and all that...
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