Watford vs Crystal Palace - LIVE: Latest score, goals and updates plus prediction, how to watch online, head-to-head, odds and more
All the latest from Vicarage Road
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Your support makes all the difference.An unbeaten Watford side welcome Crystal Palace this weekend in their third game of the Premier League. Watford’s unbeaten start comes after a convincing 3-1 away win against Burnley and a season opening 2-0 win against Brighton.
Javi Gracia’s side who have brought in 8 new, squad deepening players notably Gerard Deulofeu on a permanent transfer after his successes of last season for the Hornets whilst being on loan. Watford who got off to a great start to the season last year will be hoping to replicate the successes and push towards the higher end of the table after slipping down to 14th from an early placed 7th.
Roy Hodgson replaces a dilemma upfront as an inconsistent Christian Benteke could be forced out of the first XI after a disappointing performance against his old club Liverpool on Monday night. Possible replacements include Ayew, new boy Meyer and Sorloth. Another positions Hodgson faces difficulty with this week is Right-back. This comes after a late last man challenge on Mohammed Salah earnt Aaron Wan-Bissaka a red card and a one-match ban.
We will have all the latest from Vicarage Road right here:
Preview
What time does it start?
Watford vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 1.30pm on Sunday 26 August at Vicarage Road.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football from 12.30pm. Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the game online via the SkyGo app.
It’s a big game for?
Roberto Pereyra: The 27 year old Argentine scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Brighton on the first day of the season. He impressed fans last season scoring 5 goals and making 3 assists for Watford. Pereyra looks at home under Gracia’s new system which Pereyra is used to playing in as it is similar to that of his old club Udinese.
Stat?
5: Crystal Palace are undefeated in their last five away matches
Remember when…
Crystal Palace have a handy knack of beating Watford in big matches. The Eagles have twice been victories in Wembley meetings in the last few years, beating Watford in the 2012/13 final and the 2015/16 FA Cup semi-final.
Player to watch…
Wilfred Zaha: Wilfred seems to be an example of the term ‘you get better with age’. Each season you don’t think he can perform any better but somehow at the turn of each new season he seems to be getting better and more influential to the Palace side. Perhaps one of Manchester United’s biggest regrets. Letting Zaha go was a bad idea. Having scored on the first day of the season against Fulham, and also coming close on numerous occasions against Liverpool, Zaha could be labelled as Palace’s best player. This was shown also against Liverpool on Monday night. Even though the result didn’t go his way.
Past three-meetings…
Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, April 2018
Crystal Palace 2 (Sako, McArthur) Watford 1 (Janmaat), Premier League, December 2017
Crystal Palace 1 (Deeney OG) Watford 0, Premier League, March 2017
Odds…
Watford to win: 3/2
Crystal Palace to win: 2/1
Draw: 9/4
Prediction...
Watford 2 Crystal Palace 1
5 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace take a quick free kick and work the ball forward on the left hand side, Benteke gets the ball and switches it out to Ward on the right, he gives it to Townsend who dinks it back into the box and Benteke dives forward and heads the ball just past the post
9 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
A yellow card for Zaha after he follows through on a challenge against Holebas, the game is developing into a physical contest as van Aanholt is brought down
14 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Great save! Kabasele stops a promising Palace attack by dispossessing Zaha but makes a mistake by giving the ball to Townsend, Palace work the ball nicely on the edge of the box before moving wide on the right. Townsend whips the ball into the area and Benteke finds it with a header straight at Foster who parries it wide
17 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Foster again makes a stunning save! McArthur this time finds his way through Watford's defence before receiving the ball in the middle of the box, he tries to guide it past Foster to the keeper's right but Foster puts out a strong hand to deny Palace the lead.
22 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Chance! Watford in the ascendancy now the ball comes in from the right and Pereyra meets it on the volley but McArthur gets enough boot on it to put it out for a corner.
The corner is cleared but Watford come again, this time the ball is passed through the middle, Deeney leaves the ball and Pereyra hits it first time but Hennessey makes an easy save
26 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
The rain is pumping down as the game remains goalless, Palace seeing more of the ball but both sides are creating chances, Ward runs down the right on the overlap but Holebas holds him off and the ball goes out for a goal kick
30 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Pereyra looks to break away into Palace's half but he's brought down by McArthur, Holebas takes the resulting free kick but his ball into the box sails over the heads of everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
32 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace break through again, McArthur combines with Benteke to run past the centre halfs but Holebas covers from the right with a sliding tackle before McArthur gets his shot away
37 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Yellow card for Janmaat, referee Anthony Taylor told him to calm down before he held on to Zaha, Doucoure now with the foul, challenging Schlupp for the ball in the air but arriving too late. Watford just seem to be losing a little composure as we approach half time
42 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Lots of players hitting the deck today and it's not due to the rain, Milivojevic is brought down this time by Deeney as the Watford striker tried to win the ball. The free kick is played quickly and Watford win the ball back, Holebas comes bounding down the right wing and he wins a corner
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