Venue: Vicarage Road
Date: 10/12/2016
Kick-off: 12:30 (BST)
Everton travel to Vicarage Road to square off against Watford on Saturday in the early clash of the game week and the Toffees will surely be hopeful of claiming a victory from the encounter following a positive result against Manchester United last time out.
Everton’s winless run in the Premier League stretched to four matches following a 1-1 draw against Manchester United last weekend but it has to be said that the Toffees would have been pleased with the result, especially after salvaging the point in the last minute.
However, it is clear to see that Everton need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and it will surely not prove to be easy against a strong Watford side away from home this weekend.
Everton Team News
Everton received a huge blow against Manchester United after it was revealed that Yannick Bolasie would be ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury. Seamus Coleman’s injury is not so serious though and he is expected to be fit for the encounter against Watford.
Coleman should lineup alongside the likes of Ramiro Funes Mori, Ashley Williams and Leighton Baines at the back while Maarten Stekelenburg continues in goal once again.
In the midfield positions, Idrissa Gueye and Gareth Barry will continue their strong partnership but it will be interesting to see if Tom Cleverley or James McCarthy is handed the third spot at the middle of the park.
With Bolasie out, Kevin Mirallas is expected to come into the lineup and the other wing should be occupied by Ross Barkley. Romelu Lukaku was very ineffectual against United and one can be sure that the Belgian will be desperate to break his duck in front of goal this weekend.
Probable Lineups
Watford (Probable XI): Gomes; Britos, Prodl, Kaboul; Holebas, Behrami, Capoue, Janmaat; Amrabat, Deeney, Okaka
Everton (Probable XI): Stekelenburg; Baines, Funes Mori, Williams, Coleman; Barry, Cleverley, Gueye, Barkley, Mirallas; Lukaku
Last Meeting
09/04/2016 Watford 1 – 1 Everton
08/08/2015 Everton 2 – 2 Watford
Prediction
Everton and Watford played out two draws last season and the match on Saturday is expected to be another close affair once again. The Toffees are not particularly playing well at the moment while Watford themselves seem to be going through a bit of a slump.
As a result, both teams will be desperate to claim the three points from the encounter but Everton may well just be able to sneak a narrow victory by the odd goal on the day.
Watford 1-2 Everton
