- Manchester City looking to bounce back after stunning loss to Norwich City
- Watford enjoyed thrilling comeback draw last weekend v. Arsenal
- Manchester City have won their last 11 meetings with Watford in all competitions, scoring at least twice in each match and 38 times in total.
- This will be the fourth managerial meeting between Pep Guardiola and Sanchez Flores but the first in England. Sanchez Flores won the first match as Atletico Madrid manager in February 2010 against Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Coming off the club’s first Premier League in 19 matches last weekend, Manchester City returns home to the friendly confines of the Etihad Stadium to face a team they’re quite familiar with in Watford. (Watch live, 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN and NBCSports.com).
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Man City of course obliterated Watford, 6-0, in the FA Cup final last May, but it’s a new Watford with Quique Sanchez Flores in charge. Watford as well looked the best it had all season in the second half of last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, though that very easily could have just been because Arsenal’s midfield was non-existent in that half.
In any case, it all shapes up to be an exciting match, especially if new Watford signing Ismalia Sarr can get a start and run at Man City’s makeshift backline. Then again, if Raheem Sterling is back to his usual clinical self, it could be a long afternoon again for the Hornets.
Injuries/suspensions
Manchester City: OUT - Aymeric Laporte (knee), John Stones (thigh), Leroy Sane (knee); QUESTIONABLE - Phil Foden (illness)
Watford: OUT - Craig Cathcart (muscle), Isaac Success (groin), Troy Deeney (knee)
Projected lineups
Manchester City: Ederson - Walker, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Zinchenko - Gundogan, Rodri, Silva - Sterling - Aguero, De Bruyne
Watford: Foster - Femenia, Dawson, Kabasele, Holebas - Capoue, Cleverly, Dacoure - Pereyra, Sarr, Deulofeu
What they’re saying
Pep Guardiola, on striker Gabriel Jesus after his goal in mid-week v. Shakhtar Donetsk: “It’s difficult to find anywhere in the world a striker like Gabriel. The number nine for Brazil, his behaviour in training is outstanding and he has to fight with one of the best strikers I have ever seen in my life in Aguero [for a place in the side]. I will not find a player like Gabriel. To sub Sergio you have to have a top player. I am so delighted with the strikers. When Gabriel plays, he does absolutely everything. Like he did in Ukraine, not just for the goal, he fights and plays.”
Quique Sanchez Flores, on last week’s comeback v. Arsenal: “We have good feelings. We need to make sure we don’t go too much about this match as the next one is completely different. It is not a time to talk about how many shots or how many attempts we had. It is time to be realistic. We still need to change the dynamic – this is the first step and then change for the next opponent.”
Prediction
Manchester City will be ultra focused this weekend to get back to winning ways, and even with a makeshift centerback duo, there’s still more than enough attacking firepower to demolish Watford. The Hornets looked better last week after making the coaching change during the international break, but this will be a step back for Watford.
Man City 3-0 Watford
