Watford vs Tottenham - as it happened: Harry Kane and Dele Alli both see double as Spurs cruise to victory
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KICK-OFF: 13:30, Sunday 1 January 2017
TV: Live on Sky Sports 1
Teams...
Watford (3-4-2-1): Gomes; Kaboul, Prödl, Cathcart; Zúñiga, Capoue, Guedioura, Holebas; Amrabat, Doucouré; Deeney.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Wanyama; Son, Alli, Eriksen; Kane.
Follow the live action below...
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It’s a big game for…
Younes Kaboul. The Frenchman plied his trade for Sunday’s visitors for five years and will want to get one up on his old club. Watford haven’t kept a clean sheet since their 1-0 win against Hull back in October, and Kaboul would love to end that streak here today.
Best stat…
29. The last time Watford triumphed against Tottenham was 29 years ago back in the 1986/87 season, when the Hornets secured a 1-0 home win. Despite seeming like a long while, it’s only ten games without a win. Only.
Remember when…
A Kieran Trippier goal just after the hour helped Spurs claim a 1-0 win in their last meeting.
Player to watch…
Troy Deeney. The Watford striker racked up his 100th goal for the Hornets in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and will be keen to build on it. That was his first goal since October and now he needs to spearhead the Watford attack by picking up some momentum by way of goalscoring.
Past three meetings…
Tottenham 1 (Trippier) Watford 0, Premier League, February 2016
Watford 1 (Ighalo) Tottenham 2 (Lamela, Son Heung-Min), Premier League, December 2015
Watford 0 Tottenham 1 (Van der Vaart), FA Cup, January 2012
Form guide…
Watford: LLWLLD
Tottenham: LWWLWW
Odds…
Watford to win: 19/4
Tottenham to win: 7/10
Draw: 11/4
GOAL - Kaboul pulls one back
What a mess for Spurs as Watford get a consolation goal in injury-time. Guedioura swings in a free-kick, Kaboul gets a touch and Lloris saves, but Kaboul scrambles it over the line at the second attempt.
FULL-TIME
Spurs jump above Arsenal and City into third place with a thoroughly convincing win thanks to doubles from Kane and Alli. Kaboul's late goal was little consolation for Watford, who were abject throughout. Worrying times for Mazzarri. Stay with us for coverage of Arsenal against Crystal Palace.
We turn our attentions to the Emirates now as Arsenal face Crystal Palace. No Mesut Ozil is the headline from the team news. How will they fare without him?
In Ozil's absence, Lucas Perez makes just his second Premier League start on the left for Arsenal. Nacho Monreal replaces Kieran Gibbs, and Mohamed Elneny is in for Francis Coquelin.
'The best we have played this season'
Some reaction from Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino after his side's thumping 4-1 win over Watford.
"In three days we have a very important game, so if we can rest people and have the opportunity to play different players it is very important to be fresh and competitive.
"We played very good, to a very high standard. The first half was one of the best we’ve played this season. I’m very happy because it was a difficult game, and the team responded.
"We know that Chelsea’s performance is very high, they are a very good team with high confidence but we will try to challenge them to take the three points."
'We have to defend better'
Sam Allardyce has, surprisingly, never won at Arsenal as a manager. Could he get his first victory today, against an Arsenal side who are having their traditional mid-season wobble?
"We will need to perform at our very best to get anything out of a game today against a side like Arsenal," Allardyce said. "The focus this week has been working on the team defending better and also it's important how we use the ball when in possession."
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