Eden Hazard (£11.0m) gave another timely reminder of his importance both to Chelsea and the world of Fantasy Premier League at Watford.
The Belgian has very much kicked on since losing support some weeks ago and helped re-shape portions of the top 10,000 managers in Gameweek 19.
His performance is the key talking point in this latest Scout Notes article.
Watford 1-2 Chelsea
Goals: Roberto Pereyra (£6.2m) Eden Hazard x2 (£11.0m)
Assists: Jose Holebas (£4.7m) | Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m)
Hazard scored twice as Chelsea were 2-1 winners at Watford on Wednesday evening. The Belgian’s brace stemmed from two of his key attributes this season. His first came from a through-ball played to him by Mateo Kovacic (£5.7m) which sent him through on goal to slot past Ben Foster (£4.5m). His position to capitalise on the pass from his team-mate came from the fact that Hazard continues to occupy the false-nine centre-forward role in Chelsea’s 4-3-3 system. It was thought that he might play on one of the flanks to allow one of either Pedro (£6.3m) or Willian (£7.3m) to get a rest at Vicarage Road and that Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) would come in as a target man. However, Maurizio Sarri went with the exact same XI that lost to Leicester City last time out.
Hazard’s second once again showed his danger in the penalty box and his role in set pieces. He was clattered by Foster as he bore down on goal and earned Chelsea the spot kick, which he coolly dispatched himself. Since Gameweek 14, when his ownership figures took a wobble, Hazard has now averaged 8.33 points per match, cementing himself as one of the must-have premium options going forward.
“He is very important for us. Messi is very important for Barcelona, Hazard scored twice today. He is very able to open space for the team-mates and can be very well. He is able to play in every position. He is playing like a false number nine. He is very able to play in that position, today he scored two goals and I think he made two or three very good assists. He is very able to come to play with the team-mates, he is able to make space for team-mates, he is very able in that position, but I think that he can play very well in every position.” – Maurizio Sarri
While Hazard continues to re-attract those who sold him earlier in the season, Marcos Alonso‘s (£6.9m) appears to be travelling in the opposite direction. The left-back has pulled more than two points in just two of his last seven Premier League outings and is without an attacking return since Gameweek 11. With Chelsea struggling for clean sheets in recent weeks, it appears that Alonso is no longer able to justify his lofty price-tag. Owners had kept the faith after two matches in a row where Alonso hit the woodwork but he offered little against Watford and seemed reticent to take up attacking positions, especially in the first half. What is likely to worry any potential owners is that he seems completely immune to being rotated. Despite looking distinctly ordinary in recent weeks, Emerson Palmieri (£5.2m) made only his first Premier League appearance at Vicarage Road.
Interestingly, Giroud did not even feature when Pedro was forced to come off with a knock in the first half. This would have been the perfect opportunity to introduce the Frenchman and push Hazard out wide. The score was 0-0 with each side capable of leading up that point, and yet Sarri opted instead to give the inexperienced Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.2m) his first taste of Premier League football. Unluckily for the youngster, he had to be withdrawn with an injury in the closing stages.
“He played for the first time this season in the Premier League, he played for 55 minutes very well. He had a little injury with his hamstring one week ago and ten minutes to go he had pain in the same point. So we preferred to change. I can understand [why the fans weren’t happy] but there wasn’t another solution, it was too dangerous.” – Maurizio Sarri
Meanwhile, Javi Gracia has kept faith in the front two who punished West Ham in Gameweek 18, Troy Deeney (£5.8m) and Gerard Deulofeu (£5.4m) leading a Watford side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, as per usual.
Both players were a nuisance for the Chelsea defence but it took a wonder-strike from the Hornets to get their only goal of the game. Jose Holebas‘ (£4.7m) set piece abilities returned, with a first assist since Gameweek 4, as his corner was lashed home on the volley by Roberto Pereyra (£6.2m). In doing so, the Argentinian midfielder scored his first goal since Gameweek 10.
Christian Kabasele (£4.4m) was forced to leave the game in the first half after colliding with one of the posts in attempting to make a clearance. He was taken to a nearby hospital and manager Gracia was still awaiting results when he did his post-match press conference.
“I don’t know about that at the moment.” – Javi Gracia
Watford XI (4-4-2): Foster; Holebas, Cathcart, Kabasele (Mariappa 16′), Kiko Femenia; Pereyra, Capoue, Doucouré, Sema (Quina 67′); Deeney, Deulofeu (Success 82′).
Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, D Luiz, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic (Barkley 80′), Jorginho, Kanté; Willian, Hazard, Pedro (Hudson-Odoi 43′ | Emerson 85′)).
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