Watford entertain promotion-chasing Sunderland at Vicarage Road.
Victory could see Watford climb as high as fourth depending on results elsewhere.
If West Brom fail to win at lunchtime, Sunderland can return to the summit with a win.
Team News
Daniel Bachmann and Francisco Sierralta remain ruled out for Watford with muscle injuries, which saw them miss the Hornets’ Carabao Cup exit at Manchester City in midweek.
Edo Kayembe (thigh) and Ryan Andrews (hamstring) could both be in contention.
Sunderland could welcome Alan Browne back into contention after he missed their home win over Middlesbrough, due to a knee injury.
Ian Poveda (fitness) could also be available but Salis Abdul Samed (muscle), Ahmed Abdullahi (groin), Jenson Seelt, Niall Huggins (both knee) and Aji Alese (ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Watford host Sunderland at Vicarage Road on Saturday 28 September at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Watford have lost one of their last five meetings against Sunderland (W2, D2, L1).
- Sunderland are winless in their last six trips to Watford (D4, L2).
- Watford won two of their last three home matches against Sunderland by a 1-0 result.
- Tom Cleverley’s Hornets have picked up the first booking in each of their three league matches at home this season.
- Romaine Mundle has scored in each of Sunderland’s last two away games (W1, L1).
Prediction
Having hit a rut in their last three league matches and suffered a 4-1 loss at Norwich last weekend, Watford did well to only lose by a single goal at Man City which hasn’t often been their kindest away trip.
Cleverley’s Hornets now need to just reset and try to cut out those sloppy defensive errors, because they are capable of being higher up the table if can start winning again.
Sunderland meanwhile bounced back from a shock defeat at Plymouth with a clinical display against Middlesbrough, so hopefully that reset and morale-boosting local win will give them belief coming into this trip.
Vicarage Road though hasn’t exactly been kind to the Mackems recently so this will be another tough contest, and I can see a draw coming here.
Prediction: Watford 1-1 Sunderland
Result: Watford 2-1 Sunderland
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