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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Confirmed Chelsea side vs Watford: Saul Niguez and Kenedy start, Ben Chilwell named on the bench

Saul Niguez and Kenedy have both been named in the Chelsea side by Thomas Tuchel for the Blues' final Premier League game of the season against Watford. Perhaps more noteworthy, however, is that Ben Chilwell is among the substitutes after his return to first-team training this week.

Tuchel has made five changes to the team that drew against Leicester City, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz returning to the side. There is very little riding on the contest with Chelsea's place in third already secured and Watford having been relegated a fortnight ago.

The Chelsea side is a strong one, though. Edouard Mendy starts in goal once more with Kepa Arrizabalaga on the substitutes' bench. Azpilicueta, who could be playing his final game if the Blues grant him a move to Barcelona, is stationed on the right of the back three with Thiago Silva in the centre.

READ MORE: What Neymar has said about Thomas Tuchel ‘friendship’ amid huge Chelsea transfer rumours

Antonio Rudiger is playing his final Chelsea game before a summer move to Real Madrid and will be deployed on the left of the back three. It will be an emotional afternoon for the German. "There is hatred in the football world, for sure. That's a fact. I have experienced the worst of it," he said in an interview with The Players' Tribune this week.

"But there is also a lot of joy, too. At Chelsea, I experienced both extremes. Yes, I heard the abuse. But I also felt the love. At the end of the day, the light was stronger than the darkness. For that, I will always be Chelsea."

Reece James, having produced a man-of-the-match display against Leicester, keeps his place on the right flank, and Kenedy, who has only featured against Luton Town in the FA Cup since being recalled from his loan in January, is handed his first Premier League outing for Chelsea in almost five years.

N'Golo Kante keeps his place in midfield and he will be partnered by Saul. The match is set to be the Spaniard's final for the club as Chelsea are not expected to take up the option to make his loan from Atletico Madrid a permanent move.

Hakim Ziyech starts on the right of the front three once again but there are changes, with Havertz replacing Romelu Lukaku as the frontman and Mason Mount stepping in for Christian Pulisic.

After this afternoon's game, Chelsea will be announcing their Player of the Season. We will have live coverage in our post-match blog and will bring you the winner, as voted for by supporters, and their thoughts on receiving the award.

Chelsea : Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Saul, Kenedy; Ziyech, Havertz, Mount

Chelsea substitutes : Kepa, Chilwell, Chalobah, Sarr, Jorginho, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Lukaku

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