Watford and Tottenham kick off the New Year in the Premier League with their meeting at Vicarage Road on Sunday. Tottenham won both direct meetings last season, 1-0 in London and 2-1 in Watford, results which extended a solid five-game winning streak for the Spurs against the Hornets. In fact, Watford have never managed to beat Tottenham in the past 17 years and only managed to avoid defeat on two occasions.
Watford are going through a rough patch, they have won just one of their last six league matches and last four of them. Last time out they clinched a 1-1 home draw against Crystal Palace, a result which leaves them in tenth place ahead of the New Year fixtures. Miguel Britos is suspended for this match, and his absence is added to a very long list of injured players which includes Brice Dja Djedje, Adrian Mariappa, Roberto Pereyra, Daryl Janmaat, Valon Behrami, Stefano Okaka, Isaac Success and Ben Watson.
Tottenham are on a three-match winning streak and have won four of their last five league matches, a streak that was interrupted by the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on December 11. Last time out the Spurs secured a spectacular 4-1 victory at Southampton, with two goals from Dele Alli. Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen are suspended for this match, but Toby Alderweireld should be able to make his return from injury. Erik Lamela is close to making his return from a hip injury but he might miss out.
Probable line-ups:
Watford: Gomes - Kaboul, Prodl, Cathcart - Amrabat, Guedioura, Capoue, Doucoure, Holebas - Ighalo, Deeney
Tottenham: Lloris - Dier, Wimmer, Alderweireld - Trippier, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose - Alli, Eriksen - Kane
My prediction: Tottenham to win 1-0.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Watford win - 5.50
Draw - 3.75
Tottenham win - 1.62
Your feedback
Please enter your comment.
Your comment is added.
