Odds and preview ahead of Saturday’s late Premier League clash
Premier League leaders Manchester City will be looking to heap pressure on Liverpool and pull four points clear in the title race with a win against Watford.
Pep Guardiola’s side are still in the hunt for all four trophies this season, and will be looking to take a step closer to retaining their Premier League crown.
Watford come into this off the back of a 2-1 away win at Leicester City, and have been in relatively good form recently despite a 5-0 thrashing at Anfield.
Can Watford avoid another thrashing at a title contender? It kicks off at 5:30pm live on BT Sport 1HD…
Head-to-head
The last nine meetings in all competitions haven’t been great for Watford. Since 2013, Manchester City have won all of the nine games played between the two sides, with the Hornets last picking up a point in April 2007.
The earlier season game was a close encounter, with City holding out for a 2-1 away win despite a spirited comeback late in the game from Javi Gracia’s side.
City are on a hot streak in the league, winning five on the bounce after a shock defeat to Newcastle at the end of January.
Watford sit level on points with Wolves as ‘best of the rest’ in the league, with only goal difference separating the two in seventh and eighth.
Likely XIs
Guardiola will have to do without some of his key men in this one, with injuries keeping players in key positions sidelined.
Aymeric Laporte picked up a hamstring injury in the Carabao Cup Final against Chelsea, and has returned to training but it’s likely he won’t be risked as he’ll be crucial to the run-in.
Fernandinho also picked up a muscular injury in that clash, but he’s not ready either. They’ll return after the international break.
John Stones could return but after being withdrawn at half time against Bournemouth as a precaution, may not be risked. Kevin De Bruyne will miss out through a hamstring injury in a campaign which has been blighted by injury troubles.
Gracia has reported a clean bill of health for his Watford side, so he’ll have a full-strength squad at his disposal to try and upset the Premier League leaders.
Key Battles
Watford will need to tame Premier League top scorer Sergio Aguero to stand any chance in this one. The Argentine has bagged 18 goals already and will be looking to take a step closer to a league and Golden Boot double this season.
Bernardo Silva has stepped up recently and become a crucial part of the Cityzen’s front line. Watford will need to find a way to limit his creative space while also suffocating the space of Ilkay Gundogan and David Silva. Give any of those three an inch too much and they’ll find the killer ball.
Gerard Deulofeu can be inconsistent, but a hat-trick only two weeks ago could have done his confidence the world of good. If he’s firing, he can be unstoppable as proved against Cardiff, and City’s back line will need to stop his electrifying pace.
Troy Deeney has rediscovered his scoring boots recently, scoring three in his last three. City’s centre-backs will need to limit the supply to the big man up top, otherwise he’ll take any half chances he’s given.
Andre Gray, Deeney and Deulofeu have been grabbing the goals for the Hornets of late. If they breach the City back line, it’s likely it’ll come from one of those three.
