Watford will play their first match of 2022 on New Year’s Day when they host Tottenham at Vicarage Road.
Venue: Vicarage Road
Key Statistics – Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur
Watford have failed to score in only one of their last five home games.
The home team are winless against Tottenham in their last five meetings.
They have scored nine goals against Spurs in 15 meetings.
Tottenham Hotspur are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions (W4, D2).
They have won just one of their last six away games (D2, L3).
Antonio Conte‘s side have kept two clean sheets from their last ten away games.
They have scored 27 goals in 15 meetings with Watford.
Head to head
Tottenham have the superior record in this fixture, having won nine of their 15 head-to-head meetings. Watford have one win while five of the games ended in a draw.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Watford: L-L-L-L-L
Tottenham: D-W-W-D-W
Watford
Watford’s miserable run of form in the league continued last time out they were soundly beaten by West Ham United. Despite opening the scoring in the fourth minute through Emmanuel Dennis, Claudio Ranieri’s men were undone by two quick first-half goals from Tomáš Souček and Saïd Benrahma. A second-half penalty by veteran midfielder Mark Noble and a late goal by Nikola Vlasic completed the route and condemned the Hornets to their fifth straight loss in the league.
The result leaves them just two points ahead of 18th-placed Burnley who have four games in hand.
The host’s Premier League status is under heavy threat and unless they fix a leaky defence soon, they may find themselves back in the lower division by the end of the season.
Ranieri’s men have a knack for scoring goals as they have scored in each of tier last six games. But their good work in front of goal has been undone repeatedly by a defence that has conceded 15 goals over their last five games.
They will enter this fixture as the underdogs and will have to perform above their current level to get any points from this game.
Possible Watford starting line-ups
Daniel Bachmann; Kiko Femenia, Francisco Sierralta, Craig Cathcart, Danny Rose; Moussa Sissoko, Juraj Kucka; Joao Pedro, Cucho, Josh King; Emmanuel Dennis.
Injured: Ismaïla Sarr, Ben Foster, Nicolas Nkoulou, Francisco Sierralta, Peter Etebo
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Tottenham Hotspur
Despite their best efforts on Tuesday, Tottenham could only go home with one point from their game with Southampton.
The visitors were held to a 1-1 draw against ten-man Southampton, leaving them trailing fourth-placed Arsenal by five points, having played two games less.
They will now enter this tie looking to pick up maximum points to avoid falling further behind in the top four race.
Conte remains unbeaten in the Premier League with Spurs, with the legendary coach seven games into his career at the North London side. He is the first Tottenham coach to go seven league games without defeat and has a win percentage of 71% so far.
Such a record puts his side as the clear favourites to win this fixture.
Possible Tottenham Hotspur starting line-ups
Hugo Lloris; Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Japheth Tanganga; Emerson Royal, Oliver Skipp, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilón; Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli.
Injured: Cristian Romero, Ryan Sessegnon
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Watford 1-3 Tottenham
