Watford

Latest updates

  1. Follow Man Utd v Watford livepublished at 14:15 26 February 2022

    Manchester United v Watford graphic

    We are bringing you live text and radio commentary of Manchester United v Watford, plus the rest of Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

    Follow all the action here

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

  2. Manchester United v Watford: Confirmed team newspublished at 14:13 26 February 2022

    Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick makes four changes to the side that started the 1-1 Champions League draw at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

    Anthony Elanga, who scored the equaliser for United in that game, is brought into the starting XI, along with Alex Telles, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Nemanja Matic.

    Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho drop to the bench.

    Man Utd XI: De Gea, Lindelof, Pogba, Ronaldo, Fred, Fernandes, Varane, Telles, Wan-Bissaka, Matic, Elanga.

    Subs: Henderson, Jones, Maguire, Mata, Rashford, Lingard, Dalot Shaw, Sancho.

    Man Utd line-up v WatfordImage source, .

    Watford boss Roy Hodgson makes just one change to the side the began the 4-1 midweek defeat by Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road.

    Jeremy Ngakia comes in for Kiko Femenia, who is not even named among the substitutes. Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka are named on the bench.

    Joshua King starts despite exacerbating a back problem during that defeat by Palace.

    Watford XI: Foster, Ngakia, Louza, King, Cleverley, Kamara, Cathcart, Sissoko, Samir, Sarr, Dennis.

    Subs: Bachmann, Ekong, Pedro, Masina, Sema, Kabasele, Hernandez, Kucka, Kayembe.

    Watford line-up v Man UtdImage source, .
  3. Lawro's predictions: Man Utd v Watfordpublished at 17:10 25 February 2022

    Mark Lawrenson takes on Feeder bassist and Chelsea fan Taka in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

    Mark Lawrenson

    Lawro's prediction: 3-0

    Watford won 4-1 when these sides met in November, which was the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager.

    Three months on and United still have issues. They put in another disjointed performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, but got away with a 1-1 draw and are very much in that last-16 tie. Under Ralf Rangnick, they do seem to have a knack of getting a result without playing particularly well, but I still feel they need a really convincing performance soon.

    We know what Hornets boss Roy Hodgson will do - concede possession but try to make his side hard to break down and leave little space for United's attackers to operate in, then attack on the break.

    On his last three visits to Old Trafford, with Crystal Palace between 2018 and 2020, it worked extremely well. He won twice and drew the other one 0-0, but it's going to be hard for Watford to replicate those results. I don't see them holding out.

    Taka's prediction: 1-1

    This will be an exciting game, which will end in a draw. Watford need the points and United are so up and down.

    Find out how Lawro and Taka think the rest of the weekend's fixtures will go

  4. Man Utd v Watford: Team newspublished at 16:04 25 February 2022

    Edinson Cavani and Joshua KingImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester United remain without Edinson Cavani and Scott McTominay, who both missed Wednesday's game against Atletico Madrid.

    Cavani has a groin injury and midfielder McTominay is ill.

    Joshua King is available for Watford despite exacerbating a back problem during the midweek defeat by Crystal Palace.

    Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka have recovered from respective calf and abdominal muscle injuries.

    Pick your United XI to face Watford

    Should King start? Pick your Hornets side

  5. 'You want the fair winds, not the storm'published at 14:33 25 February 2022

    Roy HodgsonImage source, Getty Images

    With just one win from their past 14 games, Roy Hodgson says confidence is low at Watford, but he hopes his side can reset before Saturday's game at Manchester United.

    When asked if he believes he can pick his players up, Hodgson said: "It depends what you mean by confident.

    "We are confident we can do a good job in preparing the team each week for the games. We are confident we have a group of players here who understand the gravity of the situation that we don't want to be relegated from the Premier League and know they are going to have to fight if that's not going to happen.

    "I don't know where extra confidence comes from when you aren't winning matches and taking points. It's been a long spell now for Watford, both before we came and even in the brief time that we've been here, that those points have not been flowing in.

    "Unfortunately, we've been steadily moving in the wrong direction rather than the right direction.

    "After every game you need to reset the barometer and make certain that you have it pointing in the right direction. You want the fair winds and you don’t want the storm."

  6. Hodgson on injuries, confidence and Man Utdpublished at 14:06 25 February 2022

    Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before Watford's Premier League match at Manchester United on Saturday.

    Here are the key lines from the Hornets boss:

    • Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka are back in contention and Joshua King has returned to training.

    • Hodgson has no fresh injury concerns but said he will leave his team selection to the last minute to give players time to properly recover from midweek.

    • On recent results, he said: "Unfortunately we’ve been moving steadily in the wrong direction instead of the right direction".

    • He added: "I don’t know where extra confidence comes from when you aren’t winning matches and taking points".

    • When it comes to the relegation fight, Hodgson said they are "confident we have players who understand the gravity of the situation".

    • On Manchester United, Hodgson said "the quality of the individuals is what worries you most because they have some of the most expensive players on the planet".

    • He added that United have been "quite good" and fairly steady under Ralf Rangnick.

    • Hodgson said Watford won't dwell on their 4-1 win over United in November because "past results have no effect whatsoever on future results".

    Follow Friday's manager news conferences and Premier League build-up

  7. Man Utd v Watford: What does the form show?published at 11:58 25 February 2022

    Man Utd v Watford form table: Manchester United - Draw, Atletico Madrid (away), Won, Leeds (away), Won, Brighton (home), Draw, Southampton (home), Draw, Burnley (away) - Watford: Lost, Crystal Palace (home), Won, Aston Villa (away), Lost, Brighton (home), Lost, West Ham (away), Draw, Burnley (away)
    • Manchester United have never lost a home league game against Watford (W11 D2) – they haven't faced another side more often at home in their league history without suffering defeat (also 13 vs Hull).

    • Watford are looking to complete their first ever league double over United; they’ve won two of their last three against the Red Devils in the league, having won just one of their previous 15 before this (L14).

    • United have lost just one of their last 21 Premier League home games kicking off at 15:00 on Saturday (W16 D4), though that loss did come against Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace in August 2019 (1-2).

    • Following their 1-0 win at Aston Villa, Watford are looking to win consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since a run of three in August-September 2017 under Marco Silva.

  8. Manchester United v Watford: Who makes your Hornets XI?published at 17:21 24 February 2022

    Watford team selector graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    Watford travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend after being beaten 4-1 at home by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

    The defeat for Roy Hodgson's side means they stay in the bottom three in 19th place, four points away from safety.

    Hodgson stuck with the same side against Palace that brought him his first win as Hornets boss last time out over Aston Villa - would you switch things up on Saturday to take on United?

    Pick the Hornets side you'd like to see and share it on social media

  9. Man Utd v Watford: Head-to-head recordpublished at 16:00 24 February 2022

    Man Utd v Watford - Head-to-head Premier League record: Wins - United 12, Watford 3; Goals - United 32, Watford 18; Clean sheets - United 4, Watford 1
    Image caption,

    Premier League record | Games: 15

  10. Morecambe, Madrid and a game of Yahtzeepublished at 12:32 24 February 2022

    Fantasy 606

    Alistair Bruce-Ball, Chris Sutton and Statman Dave talk about strategies to navigate your way through the next few game weeks and which players you should be getting into your team.

    Listener Megan Hughes also pops by to discuss her incredible form in the head-to-head league as well as to play Statman Dave in a game of Sutton Death.

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  11. Watford 1-4 Crystal Palace: Pick of the statspublished at 08:47 24 February 2022

    Crystal Palace celebrate Image source, Getty Images
    • Crystal Palace have won 47 league games against Watford – they haven’t beaten any side more in their league history.

    • Watford suffered their 10th home league defeat of the season – only in 1971-72 and 1987-88 (both 11) did they lose more at Vicarage Road in a single league campaign.

    • The Eagles scored four or more goals for the first time in 53 Premier League games, since a 5-1 away win against West Bromwich Albion in December 2020.

    • Moussa Sissoko’s leveller for Watford was his first goal in 61 Premier League appearances, since netting for Tottenham against Burnley in December 2019.

    • Crystal Palace have conceded a league-high 27% of their Premier League goals from corners this season, with Watford’s goal their 10th conceded this term (out of 37 in total).

  12. Vieira's Eagles click into gear as Watford slip into serious troublepublished at 07:54 24 February 2022

    Alex Bysouth, BBC Sport

    Roy Hodgson spent four years and 148 games in the Crystal Palace dugout but insisted there would be nothing sentimental about facing his old side for the first time since his departure at the end of last season.

    It is an Eagles team that is unrecognisable in terms of style under Patrick Vieira, albeit worse off on points than the same stage last term, with Hodgson conceding they now play more expansive football than during his tenure.

    Vieira is building a younger, more technically sound outfit but, after a solid start to the season, his side arrived in Hertfordshire on a six-game winless run since they beat Norwich on 28 December.

    The Frenchman has bemoaned the "small details" that have cost Palace recently but they appeared to get those right on Wednesday with a clinical attacking performance, especially late on as Watford poured forward looking to level for the second time.

    Watford's best chances to level fell to their own standout player this year, but Emmanuel Dennis could only coax over the crossbar after finding space inside the box.

    The difference at the other end was Palace found Wilfried Zaha in ruthless form.

    Hodgson may have hoped he had turned a corner with Watford after that win over Aston Villa, but Burnley's victory against Tottenham sees them slip to 19th in the table and in serious trouble.

  13. Watford 1-4 Crystal Palace: Hodgson reactionpublished at 22:06 23 February 2022

    Watford boss Roy Hodgson, speaking to Match of the Day: "We were punished harshly for having ability to block the crosses and shots from the edge of the box, for large parts it was fairly even, the problem was when the ball arrived they took their chances and scored goals.

    "The last two we can't complain about, but we didn't do enough to block the shot or cross - it was a comfortable win for Crystal Palace without them having to outplay us.

    "It is a harsh defeat in terms of the scorleine, to win by 4-1 was harsh on the Watford players today and the effort they put in.

    "When you get a very good away win, everyone expects you to come out and win because that is what the dreams are made of, unfortunately it doesn't always work that way. That is something we have to accept and musn't allow it to affect what we do in future matches."

  14. Watford v Crystal Palace: Confirmed team newspublished at 18:36 23 February 2022

    Roy Hodgson sticks with the same side that brought him his first win as Watford boss last time out against Aston Villa as the Hornets look to climb closer towards a position of safety.

    Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Cleverley, Louza, Sarr, King, Dennis.

    Watford XIImage source, BBC Sport

    Crystal Palace make four changes to the side beaten in the 89th minute by Chelsea last time out, with Jack Butland replacing Vicente Guaita in goal, Conor Gallagher and Will Hughes returning in midfield and Jean-Philippe Mateta coming in up top.

    James McArthur, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew all drop to the bench for Patrick Vieira's side.

    Crystal Palace XI: Butland, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes, Gallagher, Kouyate, Zaha, Olise, Mateta.

    Palace XIImage source, BBC Sport
  15. Lawro's predictions: Watford v Crystal Palacepublished at 16:02 23 February 2022

    Lawro's predictions banner

    Watford got a huge win over Aston Villa at the weekend, and their first win in any competition since 20 November was just the lift their manager Roy Hodgson needed before goes up against his old team.

    It might be a good time for them to play Crystal Palace, too. The Eagles are on their worst run of the season results-wise, and they haven’t won any of their past six league games.

    I’m sure Roy will have targeted this as a chance of three points and their fans will probably expect a win, but after their victory at Villa even a draw here would keep the Hornets in touch with the teams just above them in the relegation battle. They just need to keep chipping away.

    Lawro's prediction: Watford 1-1 Crystal Palace

  16. Watford v Crystal Palace: Team newspublished at 13:53 23 February 2022

    Samir and Conor Gallagher

    Watford will assess Juraj Kucka and Joao Pedro, who were both ruled out of last Saturday's win at Aston Villa.

    Samir, who was substituted during that game because of a head injury, is available and Peter Etebo could return.

    Conor Gallagher is available again for Crystal Palace, having been ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea.

    Goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was unable to continue after half-time in that fixture because of a knee problem, making him a doubt for Wednesday.

    Who makes your Hornets XI?

    Pick and share your Eagles XI

  17. Watford v Crystal Palace: What does the form show?published at 16:03 22 February 2022

    Watford v Crystal Palace form post
    • Watford have won four of their past six meetings with Crystal Palace in all competitions (D1 L1), as many as they had in their previous 20 against them. They’ve already won a home match against the Eagles this season, winning 1-0 in the League Cup second round.

    • After winning their first Premier League away game against Watford 1-0 in September 2015, Crystal Palace have failed to win any of their past four visits to Vicarage Road in the competition (D3 L1).

    • None of the seven victories in Premier League games between Crystal Palace and Watford have been by more than a one-goal margin – it’s the most victories a Premier League fixture has seen without any of them being by more than one goal.

    • Watford have conceded at least once in each of their past 17 Premier League home games – no team has ever failed to keep a clean sheet in 18 consecutive home matches in the competition. The last top-flight side to do so were Blackpool, who went 20 top-flight home games without a shutout between April 1971 and April 2011 (17 in the Premier League).

  18. Watford v Crystal Palace: Head-to-head recordpublished at 11:01 22 February 2022

    Watford v Crystal Palace, head-to-head stats. Watford - 3 wins, 8 goals, 2 clean sheets. Crystal Palace - 4 wins, 9 goals, 5 clean sheets
    Image caption,

    Premier League record | Games: 22