Watford

Watch all the highlights and analysis from Sunday's seven matches in the Premier League.

Stream the action on BBC iPlayer now

Image source, Getty Images

• Watford suffered their 15th home league defeat of the season, the joint-most by any side in a single English top-flight campaign, level with Blackpool in 1966-67 and Stoke City in 1984-85.

• Leicester have won back-to-back Premier League games for only a third time this season, also doing so in October and March.

• The Hornets have conceded 46 Premier League goals at Vicarage Road this season, the most at home by any side in a single campaign in the competition, and most by any top-flight side overall since 1960-61 (Newcastle 49, Chelsea 48).

• James Maddison has scored 16 goals in all competitions this season for the Foxes, his best tally in a single campaign in his career. He also has 17 Premier League goal involvements this term (10 goals, seven assists), also his most in a season in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Sutcliffe, BBC Sport

Watford’s hopes of concluding their home fixtures with a flourish finished in embarrassing fashion as they were thrashed by Leicester.

And they could have few complaints by margin of their defeat, with their shambolic defending coming to the fore again and contributing to the Hornets becoming the first club to lose 15 home games in a Premier League season.

With incoming boss Rob Edwards watching from the stands, there were few positives that he or any of the Watford fans could take as they head closer to a summer break and next term in the Championship.

Meanwhile, Leicester and Jamie Vardy appear reinvigorated as the season draws to its end.

Vardy scored twice for the second consecutive match, while the Foxes’ other goalscorers, Harvey Barnes and James Maddison, were equally as impressive.

While Brendan Rodgers’ side have not hit the heights of last season they go into their final two fixtures well placed to finish inside the top 10.

Watford boss Roy Hodgson to BBC Sport: "I didn’t see it coming at half-time. We were disappointed with the two goals we conceded in the first half. They were individual errors. I thought we’d done enough in the first half and showed enough threat.

"That goal within seconds of the restart put Leicester in a really good position. Bad mistakes led to the goals. When you analyse the goals we conceded, there isn’t a lot good you could say. Crass individual errors and we find ourselves on the end of a very bad defeat.

"It’s disappointing considering how the same team performed against Everton. It was tough for everyone, not least our fans. We gave them a shred of hope we could build on that and give them something more to cheer.

"The mistakes today were particularly bad. I know our players are gutted about those mistakes."

We are bringing you live text commentary of Watford v Leicester, plus the rest of Sunday's Premier League games.

Follow all the action here

You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time at Vicarage Road.

Watford boss Roy Hodgson makes one change to the side that drew in midweek against Everton with Craig Cathcart replacing Samir, who was injured in the warm-up.

Hassane Kamara is available following suspension and returns to the substitute’s bench.

Watford XI: Foster, Ngakia, Kabasele, Cathcart, Masina, Sissoko, Kayembe, Gosling, Sema, Pedro, Kalu.

Subs: Bachmann, Etebo, Ekong, Kamara, Sierralta, Baah, Morris, Cukur.

Image source, BBC Sport

Leicester make three changes to the side that started their 3-0 win over Norwich in midweek.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, Daniel Amartey and Ademola Lookman drop to the bench as Danny Ward, Wesley Fofana and Nampalys Mendy all start.

Leicester XI: Ward, Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Maddison, Tielemans, Dewsbury-Hall, Mendy, Vardy, Barnes.

Subs: Schmeichel, Soyuncu, Albrighton, Iheanacho, Perez, Amartey, Daka, Thomas, Lookman.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Lawrenson takes on mixed martial arts legend Paul 'Semtex' Daley in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Lawro's prediction: 0-2

Leicester look a totally different team now Jamie Vardy is fully fit and finding some form.

He makes the pitch bigger for the Foxes' creative players too, because opposing centre-backs take a couple of steps backwards because of his pace, which opens things up more for the likes of James Maddison to get on the ball.

After 11 successive defeats at Vicarage Road, Watford got a point against Everton last time out at home, but they offered very little going forward. I can't see them holding out this time.

The Hornets already know they are going down and have appointed Forest Green boss Rob Edwards as the man to try to take them back up to the Premier League next season. It is going to be a busy summer for him, because I think quite a few players will be looking to move on.

Paul's prediction: Ooh, I know the Forest fans are not going to like this but I have to go with Leicester here. A former coach of mine, Dave, is a season-ticket holder with the Foxes and if I don't say they will win I will probably get a phone call. 0-2

Find out how Lawro and Paul 'Semtex' Daley think the rest of the weekend Premier League fixtures will go

Watford are still missing nine players for their final home match of the season, including Kiko Femenia, Josh King, Tom Cleverley, Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis.

Hassane Kamara is available following suspension, while Joao Pedro is expected to feature.

Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana is available after he was ruled out of the win against Norwich City due to a tight calf.

Ricardo Pereira remains out.

Pick and share your Hornets XI

Who makes your Foxes XI?

Image source, Getty Images

Roy Hodgson says it would be "dangerous" for him to completely rule out a return to management in the future because he is still fit and healthy.

The 74-year-old left Crystal Palace at the end of last season, before being tempted back to the game when Watford sacked Claudio Ranieri in January.

On his managerial future, he said: "It's dangerous to say never, isn't it?

"I am still relatively fit and, apart from my current problem [shingles], relatively healthy as well.

"So I don't think I'm retiring, because I literally just couldn't do it."

Hodgson is the oldest person to manage in the Premier League and began his managerial career 45 years ago with Swedish side Halmstads.

Speaking about what his successor Rob Edwards will bring to the club, he said: "What Rob is obviously going to bring is youth and his enthusiasm for taking on a job in a higher division. At the moment, his work has been in the lower divisions, which he's done very well.

"He'll be taking over at a club where the players should be showing that they are far too good for the Championship.

"The club has known all along - just as I've known all along - that my stint here will end on 22 May.

"So they've had lots of time to decide on the new coach. And on this occasion, they've obviously made the decision earlier rather than later."

Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media as Watford prepare to host Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from the Hornets boss:

• Hodgson says if Joao Pedro doesn't recover in time for Sunday's game then 10 players are unavailable for selection.

• He says that relegation is "not a nice feeling to have to live with" and added: "I think it's always a strange feeling when the season comes to an end but there's no doubt this one feels worse in some respects."

• On whether he could be tempted back into management, he said: "It's dangerous to say never, isn't it? Because I am still relatively fit and, apart from my current problem [shingles], relatively healthy as well. So I don't think I'm retiring, because I literally just couldn't do it."

• He says newly appointed manager Rob Edwards will bring "youth and enthusiasm" to the club, adding: "The club has known all along that my stint here will end on the 22 May. And, on this occasion, they've obviously made the decision earlier rather than later."

• On opponents Leicester and their frontman Jamie Vardy, he said: "He really is what you see. It's enthusiasm. It's work rate. It's desire. Talent, of course. You don't play for England without talent."

Follow Friday's Premier League news conferences

Alistair Bruce-Ball, Chris Sutton and Statman Dave reunite for another week of fantasy football fun.

After a very controversial ruling in Sutton Death last week against Julien Laurens, more evidence is brought to the podcast from 5 Live journalists and listeners.

Ali, Chris and Statman also look ahead to the final few gameweeks of the fantasy football season and whether Dave could potentially catch Ali.

Plus, West Ham striker Michail Antonio joins the pod to play a game of Sutton Death.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Watford host Leicester on Sunday in their last home game in this season's Premier League.

The Hornets drew 0-0 with Everton in their last match, ending a six-game losing run.

With just two matches left in the Premier League for this Hornets squad, who should Roy Hodgson select as he says farewell to Vicarage Road?

Pick your Watford XI

Image source, Rex Features

We wanted to hear from you after Watford appointed former Forest Green Rovers boss Rob Edwards as their new manager from the end of the current season.

There is a mixture of caution and optimism among Hornets fans:

RG: Excellent appointment and just what we need. Now it is time for the club to stand by him and back him regardless of the first three results in the Championship. Time for a new approach.

Lawrence: This has disaster written all over it. It’s like when Leeds appointed Hockaday and we all know how that ended. No experience of even managing in League One let alone the Championship and yet the trigger-happy Pozzos choose this guy. They never learn - will be gone by November.

Tony: If there is no pressure for an immediate return to the Premier League and he is given three or four seasons to build a team around the young talent, then he could be just the man. Sadly, I'm not convinced the owners will give him the time. It's also disappointing to see how the club have handled the appointment, muddying our reputation further.

Patrick: Hope the owners let him manage. Of course he will make mistakes but let him have at least a full season. Very different appointment this time, let's hope it works out.

Matt: The last unproven British manager the Pozzos appointed was Billy McKinley and he lasted two games. From the outside it looks like a long-term option but unfortunately what the board say and how they act normally differs. Short of quality and with an ageing squad, if we are not in the top two by the end of October, I expect to see another change.

Nick: A clean slate, a fresh start. Just what is needed.

Have your say on Edwards' arrival here

Image source, Getty Images

• Watford have lost just one of their past six home Premier League games against Everton (W3 D2), with that defeat coming in February 2020 (2-3).

• Watford picked up their first point at Vicarage Road since a 4-1 victory against Manchester United in November, ending a run of 11 successive home Premier League defeats.

• Everton have lost just one of their past six Premier League games (W3 D2), picking up as many points in these six matches (11) as in their previous 22 games in the competition (W3 D2 L17).

• Everton have failed to score in 12 Premier League games this season, their highest such total in a league campaign since 2014-15 (also 12), while only Norwich (21) have failed to score in more top-flight games this term than Watford (18).

Image source, Reuters

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport chief football writer at Vicarage Road

Watford ended a run of 11 successive losses with the goalless draw against Everton but that was the only meagre consolation they can take from a grim game that followed their relegation.

Roy Hodgson has failed in his mission to keep Watford up so it is now down to new manager Rob Edwards to bring some stability and unity to a club that has simply become too chaotic for its own good.

This was a spirited performance from a team ravaged by injuries and already relegated after the decision to appoint Hodgson in succession to Claudio Ranieri did not work out.

Edwards, 39, will bring a more youthful approach following his success at Forest Green and Watford must crave a period of relatively calm rebuilding after the chaos of recent times.

It is impossible to guess how many of the current squad will figure in the first fixture next season but Edwards has a major renewal job on his hands.

Watford manager Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC Sport: "I think it was a sterling effort from the players.

"They played with an integrity and honesty that was really encouraging. Your confidence can never be high after being relegated.

"I was expecting a far worse performance than the one I saw tonight and I can only congratulate the players.

"It is an evening that many of these boys can be really proud of and maybe tomorrow they'll be asking why I have not selected them more often."