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As it happenedended

Eden Hazard scores twice as Chelsea beat Watford

The Belgian helped the Blues to all three points

Wednesday 26 December 2018 22:10 GMT
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Premier League weekend round-up

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Chelsea bounced back from defeat to Leicester with a hard-fought but impressive win at Watford.

Eden Hazard was the Blues' hero scoring twice to cancel out Roberto Pereyra's superb first-half equaliser and earn all three points and keep them in the hunt for the top four.

Here's how they did it:

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Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Boxing Day Premier League encounter between Watford and Chelsea, brought to you from Vicarage Road.

The match kicks off at 7:30pm GMT, with team set to be released at 6:30pm when we'll begin our full build-up towards the match.

Jack de Menezes26 December 2018 12:34

So, just over an hour to go until kick-off at Vicarage Road in this London derby.

But don't forget to follow the game going on currently between Brighton and Arsenal with our very own Nathan Jacobs.

Team news for Watford and Chelsea due shortly.

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 18:28

And here are the sides from the day's late game:

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 18:31

Abdoulaye Doucoure starts in Javi Gracia's midfield tonight but he is supposedly a target for Paris Saint-Germain.

The 25-year-old is said to have agreed personal terms with the Ligue 1 club but the fee is likely to be a sticking point.

However, the Frenchman will be looking to steer his side to victory tonight.

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 18:48

Festivities in order both on and off the pitch tonight it seems.....

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 18:49

So, just 15 minutes to go until kick-off on the final fixture on Boxing Day, and here are the results so far today:

Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Spurs 5-0 Bournemouth

Man Utd 3-1 Huddersfield

Liverpool 4-0 Newcastle

Leicester City 2-1 Manchester City

Crystal Palace 0-0 Cardiff City

Burnley 1-5 Everton

Fulham 1-1 Wolves

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 19:16

So, the teams are on their way out at Vicarage Road.

Who's going to enjoy some festive period joy today? Will Hazard get his 100th goal, or will Watford cause an upset?

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 19:27

1 min: Watford 0-0 Chelsea

We're underway at Vicarage Road. Can Chelsea get themselves back into the top four?

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 19:30

5 min: Watford 0-0 Chelsea

Sharp start from Pedro, who plays a crisp 1-2 with Willian before curling wide with his left foot from just outside the box. 

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 19:34

10 min: Watford 0-0 Chelsea

The visitors with all the possession so far, and it nearly brings about the opening goal. Hazard feeds Willian, and the Brazilian rounds the keeper but can only hit the post from a tight angle.

It isn't so rosy at the other end for the Blues though, as Kepa gives a pass straight to Deulofeu. The Spaniard however cannot find Deeney with his backheel pass.

Kishan Vaghela26 December 2018 19:40

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