Watford vs Manchester City, Premier League Matchday 15: Team News, Preview and Prediction

Competition/Round: 2018/19 English Premier League Season – Matchday 15

Date/Time: Watford vs Manchester City – Tuesday, 4 December 2018, 20:00 (UK & Nigeria); 15:00 EST, 12:00 PST (USA); 00:00 IST (India)

Venue: Vicarage Road Stadium, Watford, England, United Kingdom

Match Officials:

Referee: Paul Tierney

Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Mick McDonough

Fourth Official: Michael Oliver

TV Info: BT Sport 1 (UK); NBCSN (USA)

Live Stream: BT Sport Live (UK); NBC Sports Live, Fubo.tv (USA) Fubo.tv shows every Manchester City game with a high-quality and legal stream. New to Fubo.tv? Click here to sign up for a discounted rate.

Radio: BBC Radio Manchester (UK); TalkSport Radio World (USA)

Preview:

Watford host Manchester City on English Premier League Matchday 15.

The Hornets have had a mixed start to their 2018/19 campaign. They currently sit in tenth place in the EPL. They have won six matches, drawn two and lost six. Their most impressive victory this season came in September as they shocked Tottenham Hotspur. Following this match, however, they have been unable to find their form against the other top clubs in England. The Hornets were overwhelmed by the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. They will now face Manchester City in what will be a difficult encounter.

Since their promotion to the EPL in 2016, Watford has lost to Manchester City on all six occasions. Moreover, the Blues have enjoyed their time visiting Vicarage Road. Over the past two season, they have won 11-0 on aggregate. With an ever improving Manchester side, another rout over the Hornets could be in store.

Team News:

Watford’s Adalberto Peñaranda, Pontus Dahlberg, Sebastian Prödl, Tom Cleverley and Younès Kaboul are sidelined due to injury. Étienne Capoue is suspended for this match.

Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo, Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy are injured. Sergio Agüero is also injured. Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan made a surprised appearance in the match against AFC Bournemouth and are fully fit for this match.

Possible Lineups:

Watford

Formation: 4-2-2

Foster; Kiko, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina; Hughes, Doucouré, Pereyra, Grey; Deulofue, Success

Manager: Javi Garcia

Manchester City

Formation: 4-3-3

Ederson; Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Delph; D. Silva, Gündoğan, B. Silva; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Prediction:

Watford are not shy in front of the net, as they have scored 17 goals in 14 EPL matches this season. Their recent two matches, however, have seen them scoreless. They will need to channel their energy should they have any hopes of upsetting the league leaders. Olympique Lyonnais seem to be the only team to have frustrated City this season, and should Watford have any hopes of overcoming City, the Hornets may try to adopt Lyon’s style of play.

Manchester City have demonstrated in the EPL, however, that it will take a valiant effort to defeat them this season. Their productivity in front of goal is remarkable, as they have scored 43 goals in 14 EPL matches. Given their current form, and their history at the Vicarage Road Stadium, it is predicted the Blues will enjoy another successful spell in Watford on Tuesday.

Watford 1-4 Manchester City