Watford

• 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.

Watford striker Ashley Fletcher is close to joining Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls on loan. (Sun), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image 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

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

Watford, along with Brighton, Norwich and Southampton are interested in 19-year-old Chelsea academy star Xavier Simons, with the midfielder out of contract with the Blues in July. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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).

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.

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."

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.

Image 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.

Image source, BBC Sport

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

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

• 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).

When it comes to this week's Champions League and Premier League action, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra have you covered:

Tuesday, 22 February

• Chelsea v Lille (20:00) - 5 Live

Wednesday, 23 February

• Liverpool v Leeds (19:45) - Sports Extra

• Watford v Crystal Palace (19:45) - BBC Sport website

• Atletico Madrid v Manchester United (20:00) - 5 Live

Friday, 25 February

• Southampton v Norwich (20:00) - 5 Live

Saturday, 26 February

• Manchester United v Watford (15:00) - 5 Live

Sunday, 27 February

• West Ham v Wolves (14:00) - 5 Live

• Chelsea v Liverpool (16:30) - 5 Live

All times GMT

Image source, Getty Images

Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaila Sarr combined for the goal that earned Watford their first win since November on Saturday - but Roy Hodgson has stressed how important Joshua King also is to his attack.

The Hornets had failed to score in four matches before their win at Aston Villa, including Hodgson's first three games in charge.

"I think we have got three here to be fair, that are all capable of putting that cloak on their shoulders," said the Hornets boss as he prepares his side to host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

"I wouldn't necessarily, having worked with the players for such a short time, pick one of the three out.

"We do know that the players we used up front against Aston Villa are talented and have weapons at their disposal - different weapons but they do have weapons at their disposal."

Sonny Cohen, BBC Sport

Watford boss Roy Hodgson has been speaking to the media before the Hornets host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Here are the key lines:

• Hodgson is sure Watford's win over Aston Villa - their first victory since November - will help his side gain confidence: "The players were delighted to get that win, especially after playing well. It has got to have been good for the confidence."

• However, he warned against complacency, with his side still in the relegation zone and the games coming thick and fast: "You don't ever get more than a day to savour a victory. The fact you have won a game doesn't make the next game easier."

• Watford had been on a goal drought before Saturday, failing to score in four straight matches, but Hodgson doesn't believe his side are inferior to their relegation rivals in terms of ability: "We have to compare ourselves with the teams around us. To be frank, I don't know that we are far behind them."

• Hodgson managed Palace for four years, but he insisted "there is never any sentiment" when facing a former side. However, he did say it will be "strange lining up on the other side wishing them harm".

Watford will continue their battle for Premier League survival when they host Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

The Hornets finally got off the mark under Roy Hodgson thanks to an Emmanuel Dennis header against Aston Villa.

After their first victory under the new boss would you keep the same side or mix things up?

It's time to select your Watford XI to face Crystal Palace

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