Watford’s impressive start to the season and the morale-boosting displays were dealt a sucker punch by an unstoppable Liverpool battalion who are romping over defences in the league right now. The Hornets had no answer to the Reds’ full-throttle football and the exuberant quality of Coutinho, Firmino and Mane was just too much to handle for Mazzarri’s boys on the day. But they will have an opportunity to get back a lot of their self-belief if they can topple their next opponents, Leicester City.
It will not be an easy task with the unpredictable nature of Leicester making it hard to foretell their matches thus far. But with Watford at home, they will be quietly confident of a win if they carry out the game-plan to the point.
Leicester have been topsy-turvy throughout the season and are currently 14th in the table which is something which will leave Ranieri grappling over their chalk and cheese form in the PL and the UCL. Watford, on the other hand, have been impressive this season. After last season’s 12th place finish, there were doubts over whether they could replicate that, let alone better it. But under Mazzarri they have started off brightly and if they can continue in the same vein for a couple of more game weeks, they can certainly think of a Top 10 finish.
T4O’S PREDICTED WATFORD LINE-UP VS LEICESTER CITY (3-5-2)
DEFENCE
Heurelho Gomes might not be fit in time for the match which then will mean former Manchester City keeper, Costel Pantilimon stepping in to keep the Foxes out. After an unsuccessful outing with a back four, a switch to a back three looks likely. With Prodl unlikely to play, the manager has to shuffle his packs around a bit.
Janmaat might keep his place albeit in a withdrawn role on the right-side of the back 3. Kaboul and Britos are likely to be the other two. With Holebas suspended, Zuniga will be eager to grasp this opportunity with both hands while Amrabat might come in on the opposite side with Janmaat shifting into the backline.
MIDFIELD
The midfield 3 have been quietly functional without any major histrionics and Capoue, Amrabat and Behrami will look to dominate the midfield against the Foxes. Behrami has been below the mark set by the others and needs to toughen up in the coming weeks. Capoue’s late runs into the box will have to be marked closely while Pereyra is growing in confidence each day.
ATTACK
The duo of Deeney and Ighalo haven’t fired in unison and Ighalo especially has to step up now.
