2019-20 Premier League: Week 19 – Sheffield United vs Watford

High-flying Sheffield United welcome Nigel Pearson’s Watford as both teams look to push on after taking wins last weekend. 

United can stay fifth with a win whilst Watford could leapfrog Norwich and move off the bottom with victory, but only if the Canaries lose at Aston Villa. 

 

Team news

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John Fleck is set to return to Sheffield United’s starting lineup after serving a one match ban at the weekend. 

Simon Moore however will miss out with a groin injury which saw him miss out on the bench at the weekend. 

Watford will be without Abdoulaye Doucoure as the midfielder serves a one match ban, after collecting his fifth booking of the season on Sunday. 

Danny Welbeck (thigh), Tom Cleverley (heel), Sebastien Prodl, Daryl Janmaat (both knee) and Jose Holebas (ankle) are still sidelined. 

 

Stat Attack

• Sheffield United have taken just four points from their last five league meetings with Watford (W1, D1, L3). 
• Watford are yet to score a goal against the Blades after drawing blank in three previous Premier League meetings (D1, L2). 
• United have taken ten points from their last five home league meetings with Watford (W3, D1, L1). 
• Blades’ Dean Henderson is one of three keepers to have kept seven clean sheets this season. 
• Outside of the ‘Bix Six’, Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu has hit the woodwork on more occasions than any other player this season, with four of his 38 shots hitting the woodwork. 

 

Prediction

Sheffield United were simply clinical against Brighton on Saturday, despite VAR again being their Achilles heel as often seems to be the case this season but Fleck’s return should freshen up their attack more in terms of energy.

Watford meanwhile produced a superb performance to keep a clean sheet against Manchester United, which is the confidence boost that they needed coming into this fixture.

All credit however has to go to Nigel Pearson for how quickly he has imposed his gameplay onto the Hornets, but the Blades are a whole different beast to Man Utd and I can see them just getting the measure of Pearson’s men if not a draw. 

Prediction: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford

Result: Sheffield United 1-1 Watford