Watford v Tottenham Hotspur

TEAM NEWS

Watford's Nathan Ake is available after being ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea on Boxing Day.

Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has no new injury worries to contend with.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino will make a late decision on Mousa Dembele's fitness after he suffered an ankle injury on Boxing Day.

Ryan Mason could be back on the bench after an ankle problem of his own, but Clinton Njie remains out.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Alistair Mann: "While Leicester City's stunning achievements so far this season have understandably grabbed the headlines, Watford's excellent start to the campaign puts them second in the 'surprise team of the season' table.

"Their current five-match unbeaten run has taken them to within 11 points of the 40-point barrier, the holy grail for any promoted side. For the Hornets' more optimistic fans, though, it's also put them three points off the Champions League places in which opponents Spurs currently reside.

"Both sides have in-form strikers too, Odion Igahlo for the hosts, Harry Kane for the visitors, which adds even greater intrigue to a meeting of two teams whose self-belief and confidence couldn't be higher."

Twitter: @alistairmann01 

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Watford are in danger of stealing Leicester's limelight, they have a real goal threat and are one of a few teams playing 4-4-2. But they have picked up more points away from home then at home this season. Tottenham won't win the league but they do look like Champions League contenders.

Lawro's full predictions v Guy Mowbray

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Watford are winless in their four Premier League meetings with Tottenham (D2, L2).
• The Hornets' last win over Tottenham in all competitions was a 3-2 League Cup victory at White Hart Lane in October 1994.

Watford

• Watford have won three of their last four home matches.
• They have kept six clean sheets in their nine Premier League games at Vicarage Road this season.
• The Hornets will be looking to win three successive top-flight home games for the first time since a four-match streak in December 1986.
• Watford have not ended the calendar year with a league defeat since 2007, when they lost 4-2 against QPR in the Championship.
• They have already won more points in 2015-16 than in the entirety of either of their previous two Premier League campaigns.
• Odion Ighalo is the first Watford player to score in five successive top-flight games.
• Troy Deeney has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven league appearances (five goals, one assist).
• Rival managers Quique Sanchez Flores and Mauricio Pochettino previously met in La Liga when Flores managed Atletico Madrid and Pochettino was in charge of Espanyol.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have not lost away from home in the Premier League since the opening day of the season (W3, D4).
• Harry Kane has scored 10 goals in his last nine league games for Spurs.
• The England striker has scored 27 Premier League goals in 2015, the most by a Tottenham player in a calendar year.
• Dele Alli has scored or set up five goals in his last five league games (two goals, three assists).
• Spurs have won 18 and lost none of their last 20 Premier League meetings with newly-promoted opposition since losing to QPR in April 2012.
• They have not lost their final league game of a calendar year since 2008, when beaten 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion.