Watford welcome Newcastle to Vicarage Road as both teams look to boost their survival ambitions.
Victory could put Watford as high as seventh, whereas Newcastle can climb out of the relegation zone with a win and potentially move as high as 15th.
Team News
Watford have no fresh injury concerns to report after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup exit to Stoke as Xisco Munoz prepares to recall several players, having opted to rest the majority of his first team regulars in midweek.
Joao Pedro, Daniel Bachmann (both knee) and Kiko Femenia (fitness) are doubts but will be handed late fitness tests.
Newcastle could be without goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman after he sat out last Friday’s draw against Leeds with a knock.
Jamal Lascelles (muscle) and Joe Willock (toe) join Jonjo Shelvey (calf), Martin Dubravka (foot), Paul Dummett (calf) and Callum Wilson (thigh) on the sidelines.
Stat Attack
- Watford have lost just one of their last five league meetings against Newcastle (W2, D2, L1).
- Newcastle are winless in six Premier League trips to Vicarage Road (D3, L3), with all three draws finishing 1-1 whilst all three defeats were by 2-1 results.
- Both teams have scored in four of their last five clashes in this Premier League fixture, with Watford scoring six goals to Newcastle’s five.
- All of Ismaila Sarr’s eight Premier League goals for Watford has been scored on his right foot.
- Allan Saint-Maximin is the only Newcastle player to make more than one assist this season in England’s top flight, having provided two assists in five appearances.
Prediction
Having made 11 changes for Watford’s midweek loss to Stoke, Munoz will be hoping that his regulars are ready for this challenge because the Hornets did look dangerous last weekend in a clinical well controlled win at Norwich with their crossing ability looking their biggest strength.
Newcastle meanwhile will be keen to build on their counter-attacking performance from their draw against Leeds last weekend, although they will definitely need to be more solid in defence early on because this Watford team could swiftly punish the Magpies and kill the game before they get going.
I however do feel that Newcastle can get a draw out of this because Watford seem to have the quality needed to match Steve Bruce’s men across the pitch, although finishing will be key if there is a winner here.
Prediction: Watford 1-1 Newcastle
Result: Watford 1-1 Newcastle