“Big January Transfer window is needed”: Some Chelsea fans react as Hazard seals 2-1 win vs Watford + Match report

Watford 1-2 Chelsea: Hazard double seals the deal for the Blues

Chelsea got back to winning ways with a narrow 2-1 win over Watford at the Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Boxing Day. The Blues reclaimed 4th spot with those three points, overtaking Arsenal who had climbed above momentarily with a 1-1 draw against Brighton.

Having lost to Leicester City in their previous game, the pressure was on Chelsea to turn their fortunes around and the Blues responded in a fine manner. Maurizio Sarri’s men looked the brighter of the two teams in the opening stages of the game and had more possession, although Watford were never out of it at any point in time.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s bizarre mispass fell favourably for Gerard Deulofeu but the Spaniard failed to make the most of it. Deulofeu was once again in the thick of the things, cutting inside from the left to create space and teed up Troy Deeney to have a crack on goal but David Luiz rescued Chelsea with a goal-saving tackle.

Eden Hazard should have scored from point-blank range but he failed to connect with Cesar Azpilicueta’s low cross from the right. However, it was the Belgian who drew first blood for Chelsea.

Mateo Kovacic won the ball back in the midfield and started a quick counter-attack to catch the defenders out of position. The Croatian showed good composure to find Hazard, who rounded Ben Foster to make it 1-0 for the visitors in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

To add to the stoppage-time drama, Watford soon found a reply and Roberto Pereyra scored his 6th goal of the season, finding the bottom corner of the net with a brilliant right-footed volley from Jose Holebas’s cross to restore parity.

Watford had a few half chances in the second half but a moment of madness from Foster inside the penalty area handed the Blues a penalty.

Played in behind the backline by Jorginho’s inch-perfect lobbed pass, the goalkeeper barged Hazard to the ground in a one-on-one situation and the Belgian made no mistake in converting the resultant spot kick.

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Hazard scored his 100th goal for the club as Chelsea held on to their lead in the second half to bag all three points.

Another man who would not forget this game is 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi, who made his Premier League debut coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured Pedro only to go off injured with five minutes remaining in the game.

Here’s how the Chelsea fans reacted to the 2- away win: