Manchester United will welcome a Watford team who have been in pretty good form over the last month. The Hornets have already humbled the mighty United once this season and the Red Devils will look to exact revenge for that 1-3 loss. Jose Mourinho’s side has hit their strides in recent months and are a far cry from their jittery and unsure selves at the beginning of the season.
On paper, United are the clear favourites and are heavily backed to emerge victorious but the Hornets will go there with a strong tactical set-up and will look to frustrate the home team, who have played out a number of draws on their own turf.
TRIVIA
- Manchester United have never lost a home league game against the Hornets (W7 D2 L0), winning all three against them in the Premier League.
- The Hornets’ only win at Old Trafford against the Red Devils came in October 1978 in the League Cup, with both goals scored by Luther Blissett in a 2-1 victory.
- Watford could become just the ninth team in Premier League history to record a double over Man Utd in a season, following Arsenal (three times), Blackburn, Chelsea (three times), Everton, Liverpool (four times), Man City (three times), Swansea and West Ham.
- Troy Deeney has scored two Premier League goals against the Red Devils, both penalties in the last five minutes of matches. However, he also scored a 90th-minute own-goal to gift Manchester United victory in November 2015.
- Deeney has scored in each of his last three Premier League games (three goals). He last scored in four in a row in December 2015.
- Wayne Rooney’s three previous appearances against Watford in all competitions have yielded three goals and two assists, with United’s record goalscorer registering a goal and an assist in his only previous appearance against them at Old Trafford in January 2007.
- Manchester United are on their longest Premier League unbeaten run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 (15 games – W8 D7 L0).
TEAM NEWS & PREDICTED LINE-UP
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Phil Jones (foot) and Marcos Rojo (knock) are doubts ahead of the home clash against Watford having failed to train during the early part of the week, but Wayne Rooney has recovered from illness and should be available.
De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Pogba; Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford; Ibrahimovic
WATFORD (4-3-3)
Kabasele has returned to training and might challenge Cathcart for the right-back berth. Costel Pantilimon, Nordin Amrabat and Roberto Pereyra remain sidelined.
Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Kaboul, Holebas; Cleverly, Behrami, Capoue; Niang, Deeney, Zarate
BETTING ODDS
MANCHESTER UNITED- 1/4
DRAW- 11/2
WATFORD- 13/1
TRIVIA COURTESY- OPTA
