Watford are coming off a morale-boosting 3-2 win over Everton and while they would want to celebrate the win, the Hornets will have to contend with a daunting trip to the Etihad first. While it is true that Manchester City are longer a fearsome prospect to play at home anymore, with teams sitting tight and thwarting City’s profligate attackers and scoring the all-important goal in a couple of shots that they could muster against a non-existent City rear-guard.
Manchester City are all over the place and the knives are out for Pep Guardiola and his philosophy which is apparently flying over the head of most of the people and worrying, by the looks of it, some of his players. A run of 10 straight wins had turned it into a one-horse race but in a couple of months the scenario has changed on its head and City seems to be in serious trouble.
While they are still expected to dominate, Watford will be believing till the 90th minute they can muster something from the game.
TRIVIA
Manchester City are unbeaten in four previous Premier League games against Watford, winning both fixtures against them last season (W2 D2 L0).
The Hornets didn’t manage a single shot on target in their Premier League meeting with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last season.
All seven of the previous goals scored in this fixture in the Premier League have arrived after half-time.
Watford have never won a Premier League match on a Wednesday (W0 D2 L7).
Pep Guardiola has seen his side concede three or more goals in consecutive league games for the very first time as a manager.
Guardiola has only lost three successive league games as a manager once before – this was in May 2015 as Bayern Munich boss (vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Augsburg and Sport-Club Freiburg).
Watford have conceded nine goals and allowed their opponents 20 shots on target in their last two Premier League away matches.
TEAM NEWS
MANCHESTER CITY
Defender Nicolas Otamendi returns from suspension for Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Striker Sergio Aguero and midfielder Fernandinho, however, are both still banned with three and two games still to serve respectively.
Vincent Kompany remains out injured.
WATFORD
Watford defender Younes Kaboul could be involved after returning to training following a calf injury.
Midfielder Roberto Pereyra is available again following his one-match ban. However, Valon Behrami is doubtful because of illness.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
MANCHESTER CITY (4-1-4-1)
Bravo; Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy; Fernando; Sterling, De Bruyne, Toure, Nolito; Iheanacho
WATFORD (3-4-3)
Gomes; Prodl, Britos, Kaboul; Janmaat, Capoue, Pereyra, Holebas; Amrabat, Deeney, Okaka
BETTING ODDS
MANCHESTER CITY- 2/7
DRAW- 11/2
WATFORD- 10/1
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
