Chelsea have seen this out in a very professional manner. They have completely silenced the crowd at Vicarage Road, who have barely seen their side carve out a chance since the restart. There's still a job left for the Blues to do, but Sarri will have to be thrilled with how they have responded to Pereyra's equaliser.
90'
There will be four minutes added on at the end of this match.
87'
The circumstances were obviously quite different, but Watford scored three times in the final six minutes in this fixture last season - a 4-1 win over Chelsea. They don't partucilarly look like scoring here, though, with Chelsea the ones queuing up - Jorginho narrowly missing the top corner with a strike from 20 yards.
85'
Emerson enters the game and replaces C. Hudson-Odoi.
The final change of the match for either side sees Emerson replace Hudson-Odoi, as Sarri opts to bring on another defender. It's a first Premier League appearance of the season for Emerson.
82'
I. Success enters the game and replaces Deulofeu.
Watford's final change of the match sees Success replace Deulofeu up top. That means the Spaniard's streak of never scoring in three successive top-flight matches will continue.
80'
R. Barkley enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
Chelsea's second change of the night sees Barkley replace Kovacic in midfield.
77'
Another free-kick for Watford, who are getting the ball forward at every opportunity now. Deeney's hold-up play lures Luiz into a foul, but the delivery from Pereyra from 35 yards is poor and Luiz is in turn fouled as a free-kick is awarded the other way.
75'
Encouraging from Watford as Quina wins a free-kick just a few yards to the left of the penalty area, following a foul by Kante. These are the sorts of opportunities the Hornets will be looking for, with their height, but they're going to need better deliveries than that! This one from Deulofeu is easily headed clear at the near post by Kovacic.
71'
Watford appear to be playing with a front three now as Quina has joined Deulofeu and Deeney up top. The Hornets certainly have plenty of height in the side, but can they get balls into the box to exploit it?
Minute
Description
69'
Quina's first contribution is a foul in his own end as he trips up Jorginho. Frustration is certainly building for the hosts, who are struggling to win the ball back when Cheslea get in possession. Their frustrations won't be alleviated here either, with Chelsea in no rush to take this free-kick.
67'
Domingos Quina enters the game and replaces K. Sema.
A second Watford change sees Quina come on in place of Sena on the wing. The enterprising teenager will try and provide Watford with a spark in attack.
64'
Chelsea are looking in control since taking the lead back, luring Watford forward before closing them down when they get into attack. Watford are going to have to dig deep here to find yet another equaliser.
60'
It really was a rush of blood to the head from Foster, who didn't need to get off his line and challenge Hazard, who was played forward by Jorginho's excellent ball over the top. Nonetheless it was a clear penalty, but the Watford supporters will feel they should have had one of their own and they are putting the referee under intense pressure now.
58'
B. Foster gets yellow.
Penalty goal scored by E. Hazard for Chelsea!
PENALTY TO CHELSEA! This will do nothing to please the Watford supporters! Having being denied a penalty moments earlier at one end, the Hornets concede one at the other as Foster is caught flat-footed before taking down Hazard, who got around him without issue.
CHELSEA BACK IN FRONT! 2-1! Lovely, cool and clinical from Hazard, who sends Foster the wrong way and thumps a finish in to put Chelsea ahead once again.
56'
It's really coming to life now, with these supporters urging Watford forward at every opportunity. The hosts are starting to take control a bit, as you can almost feel the momentum shifting in their favour.
50'
Kante continues his role higher up the pitch, making a delayed run to try and get on the end of an inviting ball over the top from Luiz, but Foster is wise to it. Chelsea are asking the questions early in this second half.
48'
Hudson-Odoi spent half-time out on the pitch finishing his warm-up after being called upon late in the first half. He senses how big an opportunity this is, as he's making his first Premier League appearance of the season.
46'
Back underway at Vicarage Road!
45' +4
HALF-TIME: WATFORD 1-1 CHELSEA.
45' +3
R. Pereyra has scored a goal for Watford! Assist by J. Holebas.
STUNNER! IT'S 1-1 AND PARITY IS RESTORED! Absolutely sensational technique from Pereyra, who stands away from a crowded penalty area as he meets a corner and lashes a quite magnificently struck volley in at the near post! That is out of the top drawer!
Holebas picked out Pereyra with his corner, as he provides the assist.
45' +1
E. Hazard has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by M. Kovačić.
CHELSEA HAVE THE BREAKTHROUGH! 1-0! Deeney's stray pass in midfield is pounced upon by Kovacic, who quickly springs Hazard. The Belgian rounds Foster and finishes quite easily to snatch the lead on the stroke of half-time!
Kovacic had to be decisive in the build-up in order for Chelsea to take that chance and he was, as he provided the assist.
45'
There will be a minimum of four minutes added on at the end of this first half as a result of the lengthy stoppage stemming from Kabasele's injury.
43'
C. Hudson-Odoi enters the game and replaces Pedro.
Pedro appears to have strained a muscle following that last sprint, and he's replaced by Hudson-Odoi in a straight swap on the right flank.
35'
Deulofeu appeals for a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, right up against the touchline, after bursting forward on a run. He lacked support, however, and tried to lure Luiz into a foul instead, but the referee is having none of it.
33'
Chances missed at both ends! Watford counter with terrific pace as Pereyra is sprung down the left before picking out Doucoure with a lovely cross-pitch pass, but the midfielder skies his effort. Back the other way come Chelsea and Azpilicueta nearly picks out Hazard with a clever ball across the face of goal, but Hazard just can't get the decisive touch.
31'
Despite seeing much more of the ball, Chelsea have arguably been the less threatening side. It's just been so tame from Chelsea, who are felling the effects of lacking a true target man up top.
27'
Much better! Deulofeu and Sema link up encouragingly, with the latter cutting inside and trying to bend a left-footed strike in at the far post, but Jorginho gets the block in!
26'
Watford need to start testing this Chelsea defence with some quick, positive build-up play. The hosts certainly have the skilled players in attack to threaten on the break, but there simply hasn't been that desire shown by them so far.
24'
This fixture has been a breeding ground for goals in recent memory, but there hardly looks to be one in this match thus far. Watford are surprisingly content with sitting back here and putting the responsibility on Chelsea.
22'
The Kabasele injury has really taken the sting out of this match, which had very little sting to begin with. Chelsea are dominating possession, but they're hardly doing much with it.
20'
There's a good back and forth about this match, with neither side really getting a firm grip on proceedings. Watford have not done much with their build-up play, but they've organised themselves really well and and made life frustrating for the visitors.
16'
A. Mariappa enters the game and replaces C. Kabasele.
Mariappa replaces Kabasele in a straight swap at the heart of defence.
13'
Play finally resumes here, and it does so with Capoue in the centre of defence for Watford, who are playing a man light as Kabasele is still being tended to. It looks like a back injury here, and the crowd embraces him with a big applause as he's spotted jogging on the touchline. He may have escaped that with nothing more than a nasty bruise.
9'
TWO BIG CHANCES! An ugly giveaway by Kepa - the world's most expensive goalkeeper - is gifted to Deulofeu, but he tries to pull off a back-heel pass instead of just taking a shot and the chance is quickly gone! Back the other way come Chelsea and Willian is sprung behind the defence and rounds the keeper before putting his effort off the post and behind from a tight angle!
5'
Neither side are particularly keep to push the tempo in possession, instead content with patiently building through the middle. Given the pace as to which they're both playing, it's almost as if neither want to make the first mistake.
3'
There's a lot to like about this final Boxing Day fixture, and it's started encouragingly. Both sides have come out very bright, looking to assert their influence on the match. The first chance falls to Pedro, but he's unable to hit the target with a decent effort from over 20 yards.
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! Watford in their yellow and black home strip as they get the match underway, with Chelsea in blue.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this final Boxing Day Premier League match as Watford welcome Chelsea to Vicarage Road!
Chelsea will have bad memories from their trip to Vicarage Road last season, collapsing late as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat on a cold February night which really seemed to cement the looming end of Antonio Conte’s tenure.
Watford come into the match in good form on the back of successive victories, sitting just below the top six, but they have lost each of their last four matches against the ‘big six’ sides after beating Spurs in August. What sort of response can they produce?
WATFORD (4-4-2): Ben Foster; Kiko Femenia, Christian Kabasele, Craig Cathcart, Jose Holebas; Ken Sema, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Etienne Capoue, Roberto Pereyra; Gerard Deulofeu, Troy Deeney.
SUBS: Heurelho Gomes, Tom Cleverley, Isaac Success, Adam Masina, Stefano Okaka, Adrian Mariappa, Domingos Quina.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic; Willian, Pedro, Eden Hazard.
SUBS: Olivier Giroud, Cesc Fabregas, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Emerson, Ross Barkley, Gary Cahill, Willy Caballero.
Christmas was nearly cancelled at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea’s loss to Leicester City at the weekend, but Maurizio Sarri will be expecting quite the response from his side today as they look to avoid losing more ground in the top-four race.
Just twice previously have Chelsea tasted defeat this season, and they’ve responded excellently on both occasions, beating Manchester City after their loss to Wolves, and hammering PAOK and Fulham after falling to Spurs. Sarri will be demanding the same result today.
A breathtaking finish to an otherwise stale first half at Vicarage Road has this match brilliantly poised ahead of the final 45 minutes, with Eden Hazard and Roberto Pereyra exchanging goals in stoppage-time with the first shots on target in the match.
Chelsea's goal suggested things would have to open up in the second half, but that quick Watford response has changed things once again. Either way, hopefully this is a sign of what is to come after the break.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
Commentary
More…