Manchester City vs Watford
Date: 21/09/2019
K/O: 15:00
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Referee: Mike Dean
A wounded Manchester City welcome a gritty Watford side to the Etihad Stadium this Saturday.
The two sides come into the game with vastly different experiences from last week, and while the Citizens will be looking to reverse the defensive capitulation that led to a shock away defeat to newcomers Norwich, Watford will be looking to trouble the champions in a similar style to how they battled against Arsenal a week ago.
With Quique Sánchez Flores very early into his present stint at Watford, the Hornets will be looking to channel much of their ‘new manager, new vigour’ to further dent a slightly vulnerable City side.
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, will have to figure out what his backline will be for the weekend’s game, with Joao Cancelo getting his first minutes for the club in the midweek game against Shakhtar in Ukraine, and Benjamin Mendy also getting a run out after another lengthy injury lay-off.
City’s attack remains potent as ever, with Riyad Mahrez really coming into his own this season to offer another dimension to City’s front line. Kevin de Bruyne has never looked better, and last season’s best player – Bernardo Silva – has been largely confined to the bench. Watford meanwhile have found goals hard to come; scoring just four in their opening games.
Deulofeu and Co. will need to up their game to really get at a makeshift City backline, and Ismaila Sarr may also feature for double trouble with pace on the flanks.
In injury news, John Stones has been ruled out for up to five weeks with a muscular injury, leaving City with just the one available senior centre half in the Argentine Otamendi. Benjamin Mendy received seven minutes on the pitch midweek, and he will be eased into action this time around to prevent a relapse.
Phil Foden had a viral infection over the week, so he might have to sit out this game. The long-term injury list includes Aymeric Laporte and Leroy Sane.
For Watford, Troy Deeney and Craig Cathcart are the absentees, with Danny Welbeck likely to join them; he was dropped from the squad altogether for the game against Arsenal, deemed to not be as fit as the rest of the Watford squad.
Predicted Starting XIs:
Manchester City (4-3-3): Ederson; Cancelo, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Zinchenko; De Bruyne, Rodri, David Silva; Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling.
Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster; Femenia, Dawson, Kabasele, Holebas; Doucoure, Capoue; Sarr, Cleverly, Deulofeu; Gray.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Watford
Given the fact that Manchester City really need to bounce back from the shock defeat at Norwich, coupled with the fancy their attack has taken to the Watford backline over these years, goals are likely to be on the cards at the Etihad. I expect Fernandinho to anchor the side well in Laporte’s absence, but for Ederson to be tested periodically.
