Ruben Loftus-Cheek has dropped to the bench for Chelsea this afternoon as they face Watford hoping to keep their place in the top four of the Premier League.
Eden Hazard returns to the starting XI, as does Marcos Alonso, Mateo Kovacic and Gonzalo Higuain as they replace Willian, Emerson, Olivier Giroud and Loftus-Cheek in the side.
Alonso drops back into left back today but it's in midfield where Maurizio Sarri has sprung another surprise, dropping Loftus-Cheek in favour of Kovacic, possibly with one eye on Thursday's Europa League semi final tie with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard aims thinly veiled dig over PFA team of the year snub
Up to Pedro keeps his place after his goal in midweek, while Hazard and Higuain return to the front line after being rested in Germany.
Loftus-Cheek is on the bench for Chelsea this afternoon but the decision is sure to raise eyebrows around Stamford Bridge after the Englishman looked to have made that role in the midfield his own with his recent performances, but instead today it's Kovacic who is required to do that role.
Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Higuain, Hazard
Subs: Caballero, Loftus-Cheek, Barkley, Zappacosta, Pedro, Willian, Giroud
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill aims dig at Maurizio Sarri ahead of Stamford Bridge farewell
Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android .
Available to download from the App Store and Google Play .
