Stoke
The Potters have gone five games without winning but Mark Hughes' side came away with plenty of credit from their 4-2 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday. Stoke twice fought back to equalise against the Premier League leaders although the side were unable to hold out at Stamford Bridge. Their performance certainly offered encouragement heading into the new year.
City will know they should be higher in the table than 14th place and this is a decent opportunity to climb towards the top ten after a difficult run of games featuring defeats to Arsenal, Liverpool and the Blues. Stoke have drawn their last two home matches and Hughes' side will have targeted this match as a priority against opponents they defeated at Vicarage Road in November.
Watford
The pressure is growing on head coach Walter Mazzarri after a poor run of form for the Hornets. Watford have admittedly been crippled by injuries but there were no positive signs during a dismal 4-1 thrashing at home to Tottenham on New Year's Day. It was their fifth defeat in the last seven matches.
Mazzarri's squad certainly needs reinforcing during the transfer window after a spate of injuries which have scuppered any prospect of progress. Playmaker Roberto Pereyra is arguably the key long-term absentee although their lack of goals in attack has also been apparent with summer signings Stefano Okaka and Isaac Success sidelined. Watford have lost four successive away matches.
The hosts are deserving favourites for this match which looks ideal in their bid to end that five-match winless run. Stoke showed enough promise against Chelsea to suggest they will beat weaker opposition and the Hornets look there for the taking. City have proved popular and been shortened to 1.82 but it is hard to argue with this.
Watford have drifted to 5.30 and with good reason as there is little in the way of optimism in their camp at present. The injuries show no sign of clearing up after the defeat to Tottenham, when they were forced to put three academy players on the bench, with the squad stretched to the limit. With only one win in seven games, there is nothing to suggest the visitors are worth backing.
The draw is on offer at 3.75 and as mentioned the Potters' last two home fixtures have ended in stalemate. But only one of Watford's last ten fixtures have been drawn so this does not appeal. On balance, a home victory looks far and away the most likely outcome from this clash.
Stoke look well equipped to win this match but a better value option could be to back them to be ahead at half-time and after 90 minutes. The Potters led on their way to winning at Watford at the break and five of their six victories this season have followed this pattern. The Hornets have also been behind at half-time and full-time in six of their last seven defeats. Stoke look generously priced at 2.96 to add to this tally.
Ref Watch
Neil Swarbrick will referee this fixture and he has handed out two red cards in 17 games this season. The official dished out seven sendings off during 35 matches in the 2015-16 campaign.
Opta Stat
Troy Deeney has scored two goals in his three previous Premier League games against Stoke City. The Hornets captain is available at 3.70 to add to this tally.
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