Chelsea v Watford

1. Technical issue - delay with live scores
2. Chelsea XI: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Diego Costa
3. Watford XI: Gomes, Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Holebas, Capoue, Watson, Abdi, Deeney, Jurado, Ighalo
4. Hiddink in charge of Chelsea for first time

Well, there you go. A really entertaining game. Chelsea showed endeavour, but maybe lacked bags of quality.

Watford showed why they are where they are in the league.

That's it from me here.

But you can get all the Premier League reaction right here.

Reuters

FULL-TIME

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Jon Obi Mikel, of all people, almost grabbing a late Chelsea winner. He drives wide from 20 yards.

SUBSTITUTION

Adiene Guedioura on for Watford. Troy Deeney off after one decent shift.

Diego Costa is looking to get on to an Oscar pull-back. But Heurelho Gomes beats him to it.

We have four minutes of injury time.

PA

YELLOW CARD

Diego Costa goes into the book for a loose challenge. He'll now be suspended for the Manchester United game on Monday.

A great chance for Watford. Odion Ighalo's shot deflects into the path of Troy Deeney and his effort is blocked.

Reuters

It's all about holding on for Watford. It's all about finding a winner for Chelsea. Branislav Ivanovic almost wriggles into the Watford area, but it's snuffed out.

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YELLOW CARD

Behrami's at it again. He's caught Cesar Azpilicueta and he's jumped in on that one. He's lucky he wasn't booked for the penalty.

The penalty though was as easy to give as almost any I've ever seen. Valon Behrami came in like a steam train on Eden Hazard.

AP

I mean. This goes into row ~ (I've created a new letter of the alphabet as Z doesn't do it justice).

Oscar slips in his run up and it comes off his standing foot. Oh dear.

MISSED PENALTY

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

Oscar sends it miles over.

Reuters

PENALTY

For Chelsea. Valon Behrami absolutely nails Eden Hazard.

Willian takes it. Just over.

Reuters

Willian, who has been a wizard today, is caught by Ben Watson on the edge of the area and wins a free-kick for Chelsea.

SUBSTITUTION

Eden Hazard is on for Chelsea after missing the last game. Pedro comes off.

Ikechi Anya on for Watford. Jurado off.

Before Diego Costa's equaliser, I was going to say how much the game was opening up. And it's proven to be costly for Watford.

Guus Hiddink getting animated down in the dugout. He claps his hands in frustration as Willian fails to put in a decent cross.

EPA

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SUBSTITUTION

Valon Behrami on for Watford. Almen Abdi off.

Diego Costa is at it again, he gets a toe to Oscar's low cross. It deflects off Heurelho Gomes, but Chelsea aren't given the penalty.

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"It's hard to see whether Diego Costa was offside or not, but his first touch, under pressure, was excellent and his finish shows he is full of confidence now."

Reuters

Costa levels

Where has the Diego Costa been hiding this season?

Willian, on the right touchline, slides a beautiful, angled pass into the Watford area and Costa, probably just onside, nips in and takes a touch before hitting it across Heurelho Gomes.

GOAL - Chelsea 2-2 Watford

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Oscar pulls back for Pedro, but there's a yellow shirt diving in the way to block.

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So. It was Liverpool last week. Will Chelsea be the next side to be humbled by Watford?

Stamford Bridge is stunned. Complete hush.

There's a ripple of noise as Miguel Britos tussles with Oscar in the Watford area - no penalty.

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"Gary Cahill invites Odion Ighalo to have a shot! He's effectively saying: 'You're not going to beat me, get your shot away if you like.' And it gets the deflection and goes in.

"This is not going to be easy now for Chelsea - Watford have conceded just 16 goals this season."

Premier League latest scores

We've been experiencing some issues this afternoon with our scores updating. So, just to be clear, here is how things stand in the Premier League:

Latest scores:

Aston Villa 0-1 West Ham

Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace

Chelsea 1-2 Watford

Liverpool 0-0 Leicester

Man City 4-1 Sunderland

Swansea 1-0 West Brom

Tottenham 2-0 Norwich

Result from earlier:

Stoke 2-0 Man Utd

Ighalo does it again

I told you he'd score. That's 29 goals in 2015 for Odion Ighalo.

Really odd from Chelsea's point of view. Ighalo is given the ball on the edge of the area, he saunters into the box as Gary Cahill stands off him. Ighalo hits it with his left foot, it deflects off Cahill and loops over Thibaut Courtois.

Goal - Chelsea 1-2 Watford

Reuters

This graphic shows you the average position of each player.

Look at Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic (number two). He's almost been a fourth striker.

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Oscar almost bundles his way into the area, but is foiled. Nemanja Matic, perhaps with his handball in the back of his mind, has popped up on the left wing a couple of times. 

Reuters

Chelsea fans appealing for a penalty. The ball bounces up into the shoulder area of Miguel Britos. His hands are down by his side - it would have been harsh.

YELLOW CARD

Diego Costa wins a free-kick as Craig Cathcart pulls him down. Booking for the Watford man.

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"What Nemanja Matic did when conceding the penalty made no sense at all - his hands were in a position they just didn't need to be.

"And Troy Deeney's goal will give Chelsea a huge problem now, because scoring has been a difficulty."

KICK-OFF

Obviously that could be an injury to Cesc Fabregas. But he was not sensational in the first half.

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SUBSTITUTION

Jon Obi Mikel on. Cesc Fabregas off.

A penny for your thoughts Chelsea fans?

Good news Chelsea fans. John Mikel Obi is warming up. Just the creative spark you need.

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Deeney's penalty delight

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"Deeney just walked up to the ball, waits and taps it into the corner. As soon as the keeper made his move he placed it in the other corner. Excellent penalty."  

Here's a little pictorial graphic to show you how that Chelsea opener was scored.

Gary Cahill will get the assist as it rolled off his back, into the path of Diego Costa,

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Royally shot themselves in the foot there Chelsea, as Watford have not had to work for that equaliser. Nemanja Matic was doing a windmill impression when the ball hit his hand - or maybe he was being a Christmas angel.

There were a few grumblings from home fans at the half-time whistle, they were pretty muted though.

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HALF-TIME

Ohhhhh. Pedro slides in a low cross that is inches in front of Diego Costa. Corridor of uncertainty in all its glory.

It's Willian. It's terrible. High and wide.

YELLOW CARD

Jose Holebas is booked for bringing down Diego Costa. Free-kick for Chelsea in a dangerous position.

Deeney delivers from spot

Chelsea did not see this coming.

Ben Watson takes a corner and Nemanja Matic, with nobody anywhere near him, flails his arms all over the place and connects with the ball. Handball.

Troy Deeney sticks the spot-kick right down the middle.

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Goal - Chelsea 1-1 Watford

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PENALTY

Penalty for Watford.

Willian lines up another corner from the same side - an out-swinger with the right foot. But Watford deal with it this time.

Now Branislav Ivanovic is once again at the Watford by-line. His pull-back is clipped over the bar by Oscar from six yards out.

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"That goal just stops the critics. Suddenly you score a goal and you're the best player in the world again. Great strength, a good turn and finish from a striker we can now say is back in form."

PA

The reaction from Guus Hiddink was relatively reserved. A cool clinch of the fist, but remained in his seat.

A shame for Watford that, as they were growing into the game.

John Terry's nod down scuffed off the back of Gary Cahill on its way through to Costa, who has his first goal since November and his fifth of the season.

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Costa opens the scoring

Willian's corner goes through to John Terry, who nods it into the six-yard box for Diego Costa to hook in on the half-volley.

Pretty simple stuff.

GOAL - Chelsea 1-0 Watford

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Odon Ighalo is an absolute pest. He never lets defenders rest.

If you had him in your kitchen on Christmas Day you'd want him doing all the little jobs at the same time - peeling, chopping, table laying, cork screwing. Done.

The home fans don't seem to have given any of their own players grief so far. A generally positive atmosphere from Chelsea's point of view.

PA

Chelsea had 84% possession in the first 15 minutes. Watford have stemmed that somewhat now.

Almen Abdi's eyes light up as he controls 30 yards out and smashes over the Chelsea bar.

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That first 15 minutes - all Chelsea.

Since then - all Watford. Good side these Glory Hornet Boys.

PA

Jose Holebas is getting forward from left full-back for Watford. Cesar Azpilicueta has to chest behind a cross from the Greek. Ben Watson takes it and Odion Ighalo glances a header wide.

It just seem inevitable that fella will score today.

Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo are holding the ball up really nicely now. They read each other so well do that pair.

The corner is cleared, but comes back in and Odion Ighalo is all alone on the penalty spot. He stretches and pokes wide, but was offside anyway. (Replays showed he was onside).

At the other end, Heurelho Gomes is quickly out to pluck the ball off the toes of Diego Costa. Good goalkeeping.

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Watford have done really well to come out of that first 15 minutes unscathed and they seem to have shaken off the nerves.

Gary Cahill has to scramble a Jose Holebas cross behind for a corner.

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Oh eh up. Here's Troy Deeney trying to put in Odion Ighalo (a familiar combo this season). But Ighalo fouls John Terry during the chase.

Branislav Ivanovic once again to the Watford by-line, but his cut-back is snuffed out.

Apologies to Watford fans for not mentioning your players more frequently, they're just not touching the ball.

Nemanja Matic's protective face mask has become such a fixture now, it's got his squad number on it.

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Relentless from Chelsea so far.

How relentless? 81.9% relentless.

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Willian takes a free-kick from the left-wing area, it takers a deflection and drops just wide of Heurelho Gomes's back post.

Watford are sitting back like a dad on the sofa after his Christmas turkey.

The Chelsea full-backs are attacking with freedom, and this time Branislav Ivanovic is at it to tee up Willian, but the shot deflects wide.

Ivanovic has a sniff at goal from the corner but misses the ball completely.

Oscar is given something to think about as Almen Abdi dumps him on his backside. 

Plenty of Chelsea possession at the moment.

The camera is trained on the executive box at Stamford Bridge. No Roman Abramovich there.

Chelsea are playing out of the back in a tidy fashion. Pedro gets a cross in for Diego Costa, who nods over.

Cesar Azpilicueta looked to go marauding down the left for Chelsea, but he could do with the pitch being a foot wider. Out of play.

KICK-OFF

The Guus Hiddink era begins... again.

Watford, in all black, get us under way.

Reuters

Odion a blockbuster

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'Chelsea players despicable'

BBC Sport

It is 'man versus machine' this week. Our man Mark Lawrenson takes on a state-of-the-art super-computer called SAM (Sports Analytics Machine) in his weekly prediction game.

Lawro has some very strong words for Chelsea's players.

Find out what he said and see his predictions here.

Chelsea hope for double Dutch impact

BBC Sport

The three on Chelsea fans' naughty list

AFP

This fella, Cesc Fabregas, was one of three Chelsea players who received pelters from his own fans last week, along with Oscar and Diego Costa.

The trio have been deemed to have not given their all under Jose Mourinho but regardless, were impressive in the 3-1 win over Sunderland.

How do you reckon they'll be received today by the Stamford Bridge faithful?

'Odion Ighalo is Premier League class'

Jason Roberts

Former West Brom striker on Football Focus

"There is no doubt that Odion Ighalo can cut it as a Premier League striker. No doubt at all - just look at his goals. 

"His goalscoring form has been a key part of Watford's success but so has their defence. They've conceded just 16 goals, and a big part of that solidity is how their line starts high up the pitch. 

"When you play as a 4-4-2 one of the strikers has to drop into midfield to help out. Troy Deeney has been doing that better than anyone else in the league."

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Play our Predictor Game

BBC Sport

This is not quite a top v bottom game in the Premier League - but in our Predictor league it is.

Watford supporters are up in third place, while Chelsea fans are second-bottom. You can help maintain/improve your team's form by having your say in our Predictor game.

You can also check out the Predictor league table and see whether your predictions are better than Mark Lawrenson's guesses.

What are you waiting for? Get involved.

'A Boxing Day shock?'

John Motson

MOTD commentator at Stamford Bridge

"I'll be interested to see how the Chelsea crowd react to the new manager and particularly the players. 

"They gave certain players a tough reception last weekend but I don't expect the atmosphere to be as toxic. Oscar produced his best display of the season last weekend and Guus Hiddink will be hoping to get Diego Costa scoring again. 

"Talking of goals, Watford are not struggling to find the back of the net. 

"They've surprised plenty of teams this season already, in part because of their willingness to play two strikers. Perhaps the bookies will get a Boxing Day shock too - some have them at 7-1 to win on Saturday."

'That was 21 years ago - but things change'

Reuters

Watford boss Quique Flores: "It's tougher when a team have changed the manager. The team know that they need to show for the new manager. But we are ready for the experience.

"They play well and they have lots of experience and quality. We are expecting a very tough match.

"I had Guus for three years as a coach (at Valencia). I have a very good relationship with him, he is a very nice man.

"He's always thinking about the ball, about possession. He's worried about the players feeling free. It was 21 years ago - but things change."

So much happening...

....probably best to not try and apply any sort of logic to today's game.

'Look in the mirror'

Rex Features

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink: "I spoke fully to the squad and of course we talked a bit about the past: why I'm here, the reasons why we are down.

"We cannot ignore what has happened in the recent past, but I asked them and told them to look in the mirror and be hypercritical and give the best for the team.

"They have to look forward. There must be a great desire to play, yes? If you don't have that desire, please knock on my door and we'll talk - we'll talk briefly."

Hiddink's heroes

This is what the last Chelsea starting line-up selected by Guus Hiddink looked like.

Goals from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard gave the Blues a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup final, after Louis Saha had scored a first-minute opener for Everton.

Michael Essien in midfield - how Chelsea fans, and their back four, must long for his screening presence these days.

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Feel free to have a chat with us about the game today. Use #bbcfootball on Twitter to give us your opinions.

Also, the abbreviated names of the grounds for both of these teams got me thinking. The Bridge and The Vic both sound like pubs, and as it's the season for the odd tipple, I wondered what other grounds sound like they could be boozers?

Watford team news

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One change for Watford too after that demolition of Liverpool last week. Nathan Ake is on loan from Chelsea, so can't play. In comes Jose Holebas.  

Subs: Arlauskis, Prodl, Behrami, Anya, Guedioura, Berghuis, Diamanti.

Chelsea team news

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Guus Hiddink makes just one change to the starting line-up for his first game back at Stamford Bridge.

Kurt Zouma is replaced by Gary Cahill in central defence. Eden Hazard has recovered well enough from a hip injury to be on the bench.

Subs: Begovic, Baba, Zouma, Mikel, Ramires, Hazard, Remy.  

What Guus around comes around

It's been 2,402 days since Guus Hiddink last took charge of a Chelsea game.

That's 57,648 hours or 3,458,880 minutes or 207,532,800 seconds for anyone keeping count.

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It was the 2009 FA Cup final on 30 May. Hiddink, having taken over from Luiz Felipe Scolari in February, led the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Everton at Wembley.

No idea who the fella stood next to him in the photo is. Wonder where he ended up?

Welcome to our live page for Chelsea v Watford. We’ll have text commentary here from 14:30 GMT. You can keep up to date with all the build-up to today’s games here.