EPL: Barkley’s late goal earns Chelsea a last-gasp victory over Watford
Ross Barkley’s late header ensured Chelsea finished the campaign with a narrow victory against already-relegated Watford at Stamford Bridge.
Barkley nodded Reece James’ cross past Hornets goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann to earn the Blues all three points – four minutes after Dan Gosling had grabbed a late equaliser for the Hornets.
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Kai Havertz converted a low cross from Kenedy – who was making his first Premier League start for the club since May 2017 – to give the Blues the lead early in the first half.
Gosling’s header from Adam Masina’s delivery appeared to have earned Watford a share of the spoils, but Barkley scored with virtually the last moment of action to deny Roy Hodgson’s team.
Antonio Rudiger, making his final appearance for the hosts, was given a warm ovation by Chelsea supporters when he was replaced by Barkley midway through the second half.
The Hornets end the season in 19th place after bottom club Norwich’s 5-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur
Having secured third place courtesy of Thursday’s 1-1 draw at home to Leicester, Tuchel made five changes to his starting line-up against the Hornets, handing Kenedy a long-awaited Premier League return for the club and Saul Niguez his first top-flight start since March.
Ben Chilwell was also on the Chelsea bench for the first time since rupturing his cruciate knee ligament in November.
Kenedy, who played just 15 minutes for the Hornets during a loan spell in 2016-17, was particularly lively early on and set up Havertz’s opener with a marvellous low cross into Germany’s forward path.
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Mason Mount, Chelsea’s top Premier League scorer this season with 11, forced a fine save out of Watford goalkeeper Bachmann as Tuchel’s side pushed for a second before Havertz rattled the crossbar from another Kenedy pass.
Chelsea had Mendy to thank for preserving their slender lead at the beginning of the second half, but there was nothing the Senegal keeper could do to prevent Gosling from nodding Watford level in the final minute of normal time.
There was still time for one final twist, however, as Barkley headed in his first goal of the 2021-22 campaign to lift the mood inside Stamford Bridge.
US billionaire Todd Boehly, who is expected to complete his £4.25bn takeover of the Blues later this month, was in attendance to see the club record only their ninth home league win of the season.
With Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to leave in the summer and Spain internationals Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso linked with Barcelona, Tuchel is expecting “open and honest” conversations with prospective new owner Boehly before a big summer for the club.