Watford have a difficult fixture to contend with this weekend as Everton come calling to the Vicarage Road. The Hornets had a tough last weekend where they were soundly beaten 3-1 by an in-form West Bromwich Albion. But they will have to pick themselves up as another difficult looking fixture is on the horizon. The Toffees are on the back of a morale-boosting 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
Everton will be a buoyant side when they travel to the Vicarage Road to face a Watford team who have stuttered a bit in recent weeks. The Toffees dug in and snatched a draw against a United team who failed to turn their first-half domination into goals.Everton will be facing Arsenal, Liverpool and Leicester City over a busy Christmas period and given the nature of the fixtures it is likely that they will be targeting a win in the weekend. Koeman has to deal with a couple of injury concerns while selecting his best eleven.
TRIVIA
Watford haven’t beaten Everton in any competition since March 1987, when they won 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Luther Blissett and Mark Falco scored for Watford that day.
Everton are unbeaten in 11 successive games against Watford – they had won nine in a row before drawing both Premier League meetings last season.
The Toffees have won just one point in their last five Premier League away matches (W0 D1 L4) and have netted just two goals in this run.
Despite being only 23 years old, Romelu Lukaku is looking to score against his 22nd different opponent in the Premier League – he’s not scored in two previous PL apps versus Watford.
Watford have conceded a league-high 11 goals from opposition crosses this season.
Gareth Barry could make his 609th Premier League appearance in this match, tying level with Frank Lampard (609) in the all-time PL apps chart. Only Ryan Giggs (632) has made more.
TEAM NEWS
WATFORD
Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra serves a one-game ban but Daryl Janmaat is back after missing out last weekend following a clash of heads in training.
Miguel Britos and Valon Behrami both return from suspensions, but Craig Cathcart remains sidelined by injury.
EVERTON
Everton will be without Yannick Bolasie for the first time this season because of a knee injury which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.
However, Seamus Coleman is fit despite suffering a head injury last weekend.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
WATFORD (4-4-2)
Gomes; Holebas, Prodl, Kabasele, Zuniga; Amrabat, Capoue, Behrami, Guedioura; Deeney, Okaka
EVERTON (4-2-3-1)
Stekelenburg; Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines; Barry, Gueye; Mirallas, Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku
BETTING ODDS
WATFORD- 21/10
DRAW- 12/5
EVERTON- 29/20
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
