Watford welcome Southampton to Vicarage Road for a huge Premier League clash affecting the Europe and relegation battles.
At least one point will be enough to lift Watford above Everton into seventh whilst Southampton know that victory will all but guarantee their survival.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesRoberto Pereyra could make his return from a hip injury which has kept him out of Watford’s last two matches.
Jose Holebas and Adalberto Penaranda (both thigh), Tom Cleverley (calf) and Troy Deeney (suspension) are all ruled out until early May.
Domingos Quina meanwhile is absent until next season with a shoulder injury.
Southampton could welcome Jannik Vestergaard back after he was rested during Saturday’s away defeat at Newcastle.
Alex McCarthy (knock) and Yan Valery (illness) could also return but Michael Obafemi remains sidelined as he recovers from a thigh injury.
Stat Attack
- Watford have won just one of their last five meetings with Southampton in all competitions (W1, D2, L2).
- The Hornets haven’t beaten Southampton at home since September 2007 (D3, L2).
- Six of Southampton’s last eight goals in this fixture have come in the first half.
- Watford’s Etienne Capoue and Jose Holebas are two of four players who have collected 11 yellow cards, a league high this season alongside Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma and Fabian Schar of Newcastle United.
- Nathan Redmond has been dispossessed 66 times so far this season, 11 more than Roberto Pereyra who has been 55 times for Watford.
Prediction
This is a tough one to call because both teams were relatively poor at weekend but Watford can produce special moments when under the cosh unlike Southampton, whose defending left a lot to be desired against Newcastle.
I am therefore expecting a better display from Southampton but Watford will have too much for them if are at their best.
Prediction: Watford 2-1 Southampton
Jake predicts: Watford 3-2 Southampton
Result: Watford 1-1 Southampton
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