Chelsea seeking to avoid Hornets sting, Toffees tackle Toon

Watford v Chelsea

• Premier League
• Wednesday, February 3rd
• Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
• Vicarage Road, Watford
• Live on BT Sport 1

Hornets look to sting Chelsea

The Premier League continues this midweek as Watford welcome champions Chelsea to Vicarage Road, with the Hornets hoping to overturn a torrid fixture run which has seen them go without a win since 1999.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ hosts find themselves battling for a top half finish this season, whilst fellow promoted sides Norwich City and Bournemouth fight to avoid an immediate Championship return, and are actually four points clear of the Blues.

Under the second temporary stint of Dutchman Guus Hiddink, Chelsea have enjoyed a domestic revival and are evens with Coral to overcome their latest top-flight opponents, while the Hornets are 3/1 to prevail on home soil.

Home comforts for Watford

The home outfit have tasted defeat in seven of their previous nine meetings with their London rivals and are without a fixture since the turn of the Millennium, though recent form at Vicarage Road suggests a positive result may finally be secured this time around.

Watford have earned success in four of their last six outings on home turf across all competitions, including victories over Liverpool and Newcastle United, while the Blues have not been downed since their defeat to Leicester City in December.

Star strikers Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney relish featuring in front of their home support and have bagged 14 and six Premier League goals respectively this current campaign. In-form Deeney struck in the reverse clash at Stamford Bridge and is 6/4 to net again anytime, while his strike partner Ighalo is 11/2 to score last.

Pato boosts already thriving Blues attack

Alexandre Pato arrived at Stamford Bridge on loan from Brazilian side Corinthians in the winter window to boost attacking prospects this term, and the former AC Milan marksman is evens to strike on possible debut.

Meanwhile, rejuvenated frontman Diego Costa is 7/2 to dispatch two or more, having bagged a brace in the last meeting in London, with recent hat-trick hero Oscar 4/1 to fire his side to victory again (£20 max stake).

Everton v Newcastle United

• Premier League
• Wednesday, February 3rd
• Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
• Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton welcome Magpies at Goodison

Following both Everton and Newcastle United completing some late transfer business in the winter window, the two clubs will collide with their new arsenals in Wednesday’s other Premier League match-up.

Roberto Martinez added Oumar Niasse to his Toffees ranks on Deadline Day, while Steve McClaren snapped up Ivorian hitman Seydou Doumbia on loan from Roma, though neither will be able to feature in an encounter which the Magpies are 17/4 to win.

Although, the Northeast club have managed to succeed in just one of their previous eight Toffees meetings, with the Merseysiders 11/5 to secure a third successive fixture victory without conceding.

Lukaku can inspire Everton again

Belgium international sharpshooter Romelu Lukaku has been in fine form this term, netting 19 times across all fronts, and he is 7/2 to open proceedings on home turf, while fellow attacker Ross Barkley is 2/1 to net anytime.

For the visiting Toon, Aleksandar Mitrovic is 2/1 to add to his recent goal over Manchester United, with midfield maestro Georginio Wijnaldum 11/4 to strike anytime, having bagged two in three outings.