Manchester City vs Watford preview: Otamendi returns after one match ban

By Ric Turner, Wed 14 December 2016 12:12


Manchester City vs Watford preview: Otamendi returns after one match banAguero and Fernandinho remain suspended for Hornets clash

Manchester City vs Watford

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 8.00pm, Wednesday 14th December 2016

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Kevin Friend Assistants: D Cann, D Eaton Fourth Official: M Clattenburg

Odds: City 3/10, Draw 5/1, Watford 10/1

Tickets: Available via mcfc.co.uk

TV: Match of the Day

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Bravo, Caballero, Gunn, Adarabioyo, Angelino, Clichy, Kolarov, Maffeo, Otamendi, Sagna, Stones, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Delph, Fernando, Garcia, Gundogan, Navas, Silva, Sane, Sterling, Toure, Iheanacho, Nolito

Injured: Kompany

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Aguero, Fernandinho

Form guide: LDLWDW

Watford

Manager: Walter Mazzarri

Squad (from): Gomes, Pantilimon, Arlauskis, Britos, Prodl, Paredes, Holebas, Doucoure, Behrami, Amrabat, Watson, Capoue, Deeney, Ighalo, Sinclair, Kabalese, Success, Zuniga, Kaboul, Pereyra, Guediora, Janmaat, Okaka

Injured: Cathcart, Mariappa, Kenedy, Dja Djedje

Doubtful: Behrami, Kaboul

Suspended: None

Form guide: WLLWLW

Vincent Kompany remains sidelined with a knee injury, but Nicolas Otamendi returns from a one-match ban. Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero are still suspended following red cards against Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola is wary of the threat posed by Walter Mazzarri's side, and has warned his players to expect a tough battle:

“They can play with five or four at the back,” he said. “They have really good strikers – all three, I love them. They are really good on set pieces, especially the left side.

“They are confident. They won at home against many good teams. It’s not that different from the Leicester, or Stoke City or West Brom games; it’s just changing a bit the quality of the players. 

“So West Brom is quite similar in terms of the quality of the strikers as Watford. They will play long balls to the strikers, win the duels, put in crosses – that is what I think is going to happen. 

“We have to improve our results. The way we have to solve this, I know what I want to do to try to get it right.”

City's last home game against Watford ended in a 2-0 victory, with Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho scoring for the Blues. Overall City have won 11 of the 22 games played against Watford, with 5 draws and 6 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Bravo, Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov, Fernando, Gundogan, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Iheanacho

Score prediction: City 2 Watford 1