Watford welcome Manchester United to Vicarage Road, with the Hornets looking to take their first points off a ‘big boy’ this season.
Quique Sanchez Flores’ side has won two of their last three games but lost at Leicester last time out to slip down to 13th in the Premier League.
Their rigid style will make things difficult for Manchester United, who have already failed to beat the likes of Swansea and Crystal Palace away from home this season.
United still sit two points off the top of the table though, and a win here would lift them to the summit – albeit what could be a brief stay.
Key Battle – Troy Deeney vs Chris Smalling
Troy Deeney has quietly and selflessly been outstanding for Watford so far this season and will be hoping to burst into the limelight with a big performance and a goal against United on Saturday.
He does have two goals in his last three games and if he can bring that form into this game then he will give United’s best defender, Chris Smalling, a real run for his money.
Smalling has been outstanding for Louis van Gaal’s side so far this season, contributing to eight clean sheets in 12 games and has established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe, let alone the Premier League.
Deeney has already spoken of his desire to rough up a few Premier League ‘prima donnas’ this season, and he will be looking to assert his physicality on Smalling – but the question is whether the latter can meet this challenge how he has all others this season.
A goal for Watford’s talisman could be enough to win the game with his side’s defensive record, but can Smalling stop him?
Team News
Spanish playmaker Jose Manuel Jurado should be back in contention after missing throughout October and early November with injury, but it remains to be seen whether Flores will restore him to the starting XI.
Odion Ighalo will be hoping to recover from 180 minutes played on international duty, while Joel Ekstrand and Tommie Hoban are long-term absentees.
Watford Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Gomes (GK); Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Deeney, Anya; Ighalo.
Van Gaal will be sweating on the fitness of forward Anthony Martial after the Frenchman limped out of Wembley on crutches after Tuesday’s game with England. Phil Jones should be fit while Jesse Lingard will surely retain his position.
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea (GK); Darmian, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin; Mata, Herrera, Lingard; Rooney.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met four times in the Premier League, and United have won all four of the encounters.
With Alex Ferguson in charge, United have been pushed in both clashes at Vicarage Road, with 3-2 and 2-1 victories enough in 2000 and 2006.
Previous Meeting
The two sides last met in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park in 2007.
Aidy Boothroyd’s Watford equalised Wayne Rooney’s early opener with a Hameur Bouazza overhead kick, before Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in to restore United’s lead.
And that season’s champions-elect ran away with the game in the second half, with Rooney on target again before Kieran Richardson completed the scoring.
United went on to win the Premier League that season but lost to Chelsea in the first FA Cup final back at Wembley, while the Hornets were relegated back to the Championship.
[interaction id=”564d356bb8db3ddc5e43cd2b”]
Prediction
Watford’s approach this season will give them belief that they can win this game, having kept five clean sheets so far this season.
Alan Pardew recently stated that if you stop Martial, you stop United, and with the Frenchman probably out, that gives the Hornets hope.
Watford 1 Manchester United 1
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
