Michail Antonio vs Younes Kaboul
Antonio will be Slaven Bilic’s biggest weapon against Watford as their main striker Andy Carroll continues to recover from his groin injury. The English winger has been West Ham’s most important player by far this season, and there has hardly been any position in the attacking third where Bilic hasn’t used him.
The 26-year-old has scored has scored eight goals and provided five assists in his 26 appearances for the club and is brimming with confidence at the moment. He has completed 395 passes this season with a pass accuracy of 72%, of which 66% have been forward passes. His big frame enables him to be a domineering force in aerial duels and it will take someone like Younes Kaboul to cover him.
The 192cm centre-half has shown consistency and discipline in the second half of the season for Watford at the back. His display against Arsenal was praiseworthy, where he totally shut out the towering Olivier Giroud. And Mazzarri will rely heavily on him at the back. He is the manager’s only plan whether it is Carroll or Antonio.
Robert Snodgrass vs Sebastian Prodl
The newest recruit for the Hammers has come on the back of huge expectations. And although he is yet to open his account for the London club, it is just a matter of time before he hits the net. With a passing accuracy of 87% in the attacking third, the Scottish forward is a threat even when he is not troubling the scorers. Mazzarri will have his reliable general Sebastian Prodl to stop him.
Although it is difficult to stop him from his brilliant taken set-pieces, the Austrian’s disciplined defending could come in pretty handy against him in open play. Prodl has also scored once and assisted twice so far.
Troy Deeney vs Jose Fonte
Deeney has been Watford’s highest scorer this season, netting in seven goals and registering three assists with a shot accuracy of 58%. Although the first half of the season hardly saw much goals from the Hornets, the winter signings have added some mojo up front. With the likes of Cleverley, Niang and Zarate to support him, the skipper can be a real threat to West Ham.
Bilic will have former Southampton skipper Jose Fonte to cover the tenacious forward. The Portuguese international is still finding his feet at his new club, visibly struggling. Although West Ham’s composed build-up has hardly left him in a compromising position, he will have to up his game this time.
