After an impressive win over Arsenal in the FA cup quarter finals, Watford look to do a double over Stoke in front of their home crowd in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
Watford are still on a poor run in the league, despite booking a place in the FA Cup Semi-Finals. They are 14th in the table and free from any relegation threat in their first season back to Premier League and can aim for top table finish at the most.
Stoke City are currently 9th in the league table and Europa League qualification hopes are still alive. They have failed to win their last two matches, which would have otherwise put the battle for top four finish on an interesting perspective.
Form Comparison
Watford have failed to win their last three matches and are coming on the back on consecutive 1-0 defeats in the league. They have also failed to score a goal in the last three league games. Moreover, they have only scored in one of their last six Premier League matches.
Stoke City are also win-less in their last two matches, which includes a draw against Chelsea followed by the 2-1 home defeat against Southampton. Prior to this they have won three matches in a row. The Potters have scored at least a goal in each of their last five league matches.
Watford: Team News
Quique Sanchez Flores will miss Tommie Hoban through injury and Joel Ekstrand due to fitness issue.
Odion Ighalo is a minor doubt after being subbed in the final minutes of the FA cup clash against Arsenal.
Adlene Guedioura had an impressive game against the Gunners is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up.
Predicted Line-up (4-4-2): Gomes- Nyom, Ake, Cathcart Prodl –Capoue, Behrami, Watson, Guedioura – Ighalo, Deeney.
Stoke City: Team News
Stoke City head-coach Mark Hughes will be without 8 first team players in the trip to Watford.
Shay Given, Glen Johnson, Marc Wilson, Ryan Shawcross, Xherdan Shaqiri, Charlie Adam and Erik Pieters are all sidelined due to injury.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Butland – Bardsley, Cameron, Muniesa, Wollscheid – Whelan, Imbula – Arnautovic, Affelay, Walters – Diouf.
Watford vs Stoke City: Head-to-Head Stats
The reverse fixture at Brittania Stadium was the first competitive meeting the two sides since 2008. Watford have won that tie fairly easy by 2-0 scoreline extending their unbeaten run against Stoke to six matches. This can be broken down as 4 wins and 2 draws.
Watford vs Stoke City: Prediction
Watford are handed a much needed morale boost after the hard fought 2-1 win over Arsenal in the weekend. They will surely go into this match as favourites also on the back of their six match unbeaten record against Stoke. The Potters are capable of playing some excellent football at times, but the constant injuries to key players have let them down.
This is a match for Watford for the taking and they likes of Ighalo and Deeney could give a depleted Stoke defence enough problems on Saturday night.
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