Manchester City can open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table to second-placed Liverpool if they go to Watford on Tuesday and pick up a victory.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain in blistering form this season after winning the title handsomely last term and have picked up 12 victories from their opening 14 fixtures, scoring an incredible 43 goals to boot.
On Saturday, they swept past Bournemouth 3-1.
Watford, meanwhile, have slipped to 10th in the standings off the back of a poor run of form, which has seen them earn only one point from their last four outings.
It will take a monumental effort for the Hornets to stop the rot in this Vicarage Road clash.
Next Match
| Game | Watford vs Manchester City |
| Date | Tuesday, December 4 |
| Time | 8pm GMT/3pm ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| NBCSN | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast live on TV on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 4K UHD. It can be streamed from the BT Sport app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 1 | BT Sport app |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Watford players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Gomes, Foster |
| Defenders | Prodl, Mariappa, Masina, Cathcart, Janmaat, Ceciliano, Holebas, Kabasele |
| Midfielders | Sema, Chalobah, Deulofeu, Doucoure, Hughes, Quina, Wilmot, Capoue, Kiko Femenia, Pereyra |
| Forwards | Deeney, Success, Gray, Okaka |
Etienne Capoue was dismissed at the weekend and is presently awaiting the outcome of an appeal, which is expected to be a success.
On the injury front, Javi Gracia has doubts over Daryl Janmaat and Tom Cleverley, neither of whom is expected to be thrust into action.
Watford starting XI: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Holebas; Doucoure, Chalobah, Hughes, Pereyra, Success, Deeney.
| Position | Man City squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ederson, Muric |
| Defenders | Stones, Laporte, Otamendi, Kompany, Sandler, Walker, Danilo |
| Midfielders | Fernandinho, Gundogan, Delph, Zinchenko, Foden, D. Silva, Diaz, B. Silva, Mahrez |
| Forwards | Aguero, Jesus, Sterling, Sane |
Pep Guardiola will have to do without Kevin De Bruyne as his injury-plagued campaign goes on, while Benjamin Mendy is also missing. Second-string keeper Claudio Bravo is also absent.
Sergio Aguero is a significant doubt, too, and may not be risked in view of the busy month ahead.
Rotation will be employed by the Catalan, who has left red-hot Raheem Sterling out of his starting XI in order to keep the England man fresh.
Man City starting XI: Ederson, Walker, Kompany, Stones, Delph, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus
Betting & Match Odds
Manchester City are priced as 3/10 favourites with bet365. Watford can be backed at 10/1, while a draw is priced at 5/1.
Match Preview
Getty Images
Manchester City might have strolled to the Premier League by a massive 19-point margin last season, but the signs are that they will be more significantly pushed this time around by Liverpool and Chelsea.
Despite the Citizens’ explosive form at the beginning of the season, Pep Guardiola’s men are only two points clear of the Reds going into the midweek fixtures, though they have a chance to open that gap to five points before the Anfield club face Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
The Catalan, though, is relishing the opportunity of a title fight that is nip and tuck.
“Last season was an exception,” he warned.
“It’s normal to have big rivals who are close to you. I think we have just two less points than this time last year, and what we have done is quite similar, but the contenders are much better.
“That is what it is. It will be a challenge, but I couldn't expect a different situation looking at the quality of the clubs and squads. You have to accept the challenge – that is the important thing.”
Watford’s latest home game was a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool, and Gracia is aware of the challenge that faces his side on Tuesday against opponents he has billed as being even stronger.
“I enjoy playing against teams like City, like Liverpool, a lot,” he said. “You have to prepare for every game in a different way. It's a very big challenge playing against the best players, it's very demanding.
“Everybody knows City are the leader, the best team in England and if not the best in Europe as well. It will be a very demanding game, but we have our options, we are going to try it and we know playing at home we are able to beat all the teams.”
Winless in four, a victory for the hosts would go down as one of the shocks of the Premier League season.
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