Watford vs City match preview: Guardiola expected to rotate against managerless Hornets

By Ric Turner, Mon 20 July 2020 15:32


Watford vs City match preview: Guardiola expected to rotate against managerless HornetsBlues boss likely to ring the changes after lacklustre semi-final defeat

Watford vs Manchester City

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 6.00pm, Tuesday 21st July, 2020

Venue: Vicarage Road, Watford

Referee: Michael Oliver Assistants: S Burt, S Bennett Fourth Official: K Friend

Odds: Watford 8/1, Draw 9/2, City 1/3. The Blues, meanwhile, are joint 3/1 favourites to win the Champions League this season - see 888 football betting previews for the Champions League.

TV: Sky Sports

Watford

Manager: Hayden Mullins (caretaker)

Squad (from): Gomes, Foster, Bachmann, Dawson, Mariappa, Masina, Cathcart, Femenia, Holebas, Kabasele, Cleverly, Chalobah, Doucoure, Hughes, Quina, Pussetto, Pereyra, Deeney, Welbeck, Gray, Sarr

Injured: Success, Deulofeu, Janmaat, Capoue

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLWWL

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Carson, Ederson, Cancelo, Garcia, Laporte, Mendy, Otamendi, Stones, Walker, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Foden, Gundogan, Mahrez, Rodri, B Silva, D Silva, Sterling, Jesus

Injured: Aguero, Bravo

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: LWWWL

Pep Guardiola is likely to rotate his side against managerless Watford on Tuesday evening, the City manager confirmed today. The Blues have played 10 games in five weeks since the restart, and looked fatigued in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal. The likes of Joao Cancelo, Fernandinho, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden are all expected to return to the starting line-up.

“We are going to make some changes [for Watford],” he said.

“Some players played semi-final and will play but we will see.

“We will play the next two games and try to let all of them play.”

City won the last game against Watford at Vicarage Road 2-1, courtesy of goals from Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez. Overall City have won 19 of the 30 games played against the Hornets, with 5 draws and 6 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Ederson, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Laporte, Zinchenko, Rodri, De Bruyne, B Silva, Foden, Sterling, Jesus

Score prediction: Watford 1 City 2