Watford vs. Manchester City, Premier League 2017: Predicted Lineups

WATFORD

Walter Mazzarri is leaving the Hornets at the end of the season, and he'll probably not be missed. Watford have been quite forgettable this season, playing mediocre football from start to finish and doing just enough to survive relegation and guarantee another season in the Premier League. There is a lot of potential in this squad, though, and a talented new manager may do a better job next time.

Mazzarri has a giant selection headache ahead of his last game in charge thanks to the major problems in his defense. All of his central defenders are injured, except for Sebastian Prödl, who's just suspended and will miss out as well. Adrian Mariappa and Étienne Capoue will need to fill out at center-back, unless Christian Kabasele or Miguel Britos make a miraculous recovery, which probably won't happen.

In midfield, Nordin Amrabat and M'Baye Niang will provide threat on the wings while Tom Cleverley, Valon Behrami and Abdoulaye Doucouré will try to lock down the midfield and make things difficult for City's playmakers.

The biggest doubt is up front: captain Troy Deeney usually starts and scores in home matches, but Stefano Okaka scored at Stamford Bridge on Monday and is in contention to play against City.

Predicted XI: Gomes; Janmaat, Mariappa, Capoue, Holebas; Amrabat, Doucouré, Behrami, Cleverley, Niang; Deeney

MANCHESTER CITY

Pep Guardiola has in the last few weeks settled into a favorite team with Fernandinho at right-back, Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi as a center-back duo, with Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov alternating at left-back depending on the opponent.

Yaya Touré, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva provide the creativity in midfield; Leroy Sané is the wing wizard on the left side, while Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Agüero look to score the goals as a partnership.

Raheem Sterling has lost his place on the side in recent weeks, but the Englishman is always a key player and is also in contention for a place in the team. Claudio Bravo, Fabian Delph and Ilkay Gundogan miss out through injury.

Predicted XI: Caballero; Fernandinho, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Touré; De Bruyne, Silva, Sané; G.Jesus, Agüero