Manchester City can close gap on top two with Watford win

Watford v Manchester City

• Premier League
• Saturday, January 2nd
• Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
• Vicarage Road, Watford
• Live on Sky Sports 1

City can close gap on top two

Manchester City will look to close the gap on the Premier League’s top twowith victory at Vicarage Road over Watford, with the hosts having not defeated the Sky Blues in eight previous meetings.

Although, the Hornets have enjoyed a solid campaign, despite many having tipped them to struggle since promotion, and they are 15/4 with Coral to record a win over Manuel Pellegrini’s men on home soil.

Rather than looking down the league table and aiming to avoid relegation, Quique Sanchez Flores’ side are actually involved in a push for a European position,though City are 21/10 to win to nil in this Saturday evening encounter.

Ighalo can inspire Hornets

Whatever success Watford have enjoyed to this point of the campaign can be hugely credited to in-form frontman Odion Ighalo. The 26-year-old hitman has netted 14 top-flight goals this season and netted more than any other player in English football last year.

The Hornets marksman is 15/8 to dispatch again anytime on home turf, while club captain Troy Deeney is 13/2 to open proceedings after also helping play his part in Watford’s impressive top-flight return.

City possess an abundance of attacking threat capable of downing the hosts though,with Sergio Aguero 4/1 to bag a brace or more this time out and the mercurial Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are 5/4 and 7/4 to net anytime respectively.

The visitors already overcame their latest opponents at the Etihad in August, with Raheem Sterling opening the scoring before Fernandinho rounded off a 2-0 win, and the former Liverpool winger is 7/4 to find the net again this time around.

Clichy joins Kompany on sidelines

Pellegrini revealed that full back Gael Clichy will join skipper Vincent Kompany and Samir Nasri on the sidelines through injury, but there are no other fresh concerns in his squad.

Watford will be without the services of on-loan Chelsea starlet Nathan Ake, after the full back was sent off against Tottenham previously. Flores could therefore call upon experienced Greek Jose Holebas, with Vaalon Behrami also pushing for a start.

Man City have been a dominant force on home turf but continue to endure some setbacks on their travels and Watford will look to exploit that, with the Hornets 14/5 to earn a draw against the Sky Blues in the Premier League’s Saturday evening match-up.