West Ham United will look to get a move on now and strengthen their case for a Top 10 finish. The Hammers have gone through a roller-coaster ride this season. Their season started off on a terrible note with an exit in the Europa League qualification stage which was followed by a shocking start to the domestic campaign as they found themselves in and around the drop zone. But since then a lot of water has flown under the bridge and Slaven Bilic has overseen a dramatic turnaround in fortune and the saga involving star-man Payet’s departure has galvanised the whole group.
They will travel to the Vicarage Road knowing Watford are no pushovers and the Hornets have already defeated Arsenal and Manchester United this season and both teams will believe them can win the game.
TRIVIA
- After a run of just one win in 22 league games against the Hammers, Watford have won two of their last three against them – including a 4-2 win at the London Stadium back in September.
- West Ham United have never lost back-to-back league games against Watford in their history.
- The Hornets have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with West Ham, though two of those wins have been away from home.
- Watford’s 2-0 victory in this exact fixture last season ended a run of 11 league games without a win against West Ham United at Vicarage Road.
- Andy Carroll has scored 49 Premier League goals in 177 appearances; with 29 of those goals coming for West Ham. He has scored five times in his last six league starts for the Hammers.
- Tom Cleverley has created 10 goalscoring chances in five apps for Watford in the Premier League; two more than in his previous 27 appearances for Everton (8).
- Manuel Lanzini has scored two goals and provided two assists in his last five Premier League games for West Ham, this after a run of seven games without a goal or an assist.
- Watford have seen players from 19 different countries represent them in the Premier League this season; a joint-high alongside Sunderland.
- Troy Deeney (103 goals) – who has scored three goals in his last four Premier League appearances – is just two goals away from becoming the joint-third highest goalscorer in Watford history alongside Cliff Holton (105 goals).
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UPS
WATFORD (4-3-3)
Watford are still without Nordin Amrabat and Christian Kabasele, who are sidelined with ankle and knee problems respectively. Sebastian Prodl, Craig Cathcart and Valon Behrami all face fitness tests on minor injuries.
Gomes; Cathcart, Kaboul, Prodl, Holebas; Capoue, Behrami, Cleverly; Niang, Deeney, Zarate
WEST HAM UNITED (4-2-3-1)
West Ham will assess Andy Carroll’s groin problem ahead of the game. Left-back Aaron Cresswell is fit after a hamstring niggle, and forward Andre Ayew is available for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations.
Randolph; Kouyate, Fonte, Reid, Cresswell; Noble, Obiang; Feghouli, Lanzini, Snodgrass; Antonio
BETTING ODDS
WATFORD- 13/8
DRAW- 23/10
WEST HAM UNITED- 19/10
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
