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
45 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
A scrappy few minutes after the corner was taken, the ball came in long and Janmaat brought it back into the box before being brought down but the ref waves it away, Palace break with Zaha who lays a ball to Townsend but Capoue makes a great challenge, Doucoure then recieves the ball near Palace's area and fires a strike that's blocked.
HALF TIME: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Goalless at Vicarage Road going into the break, Watford lucky to still be in the game but Foster has made two great saves. They showed a bit more urgency towards the end of the half and Palace looked a little ropey.
It's still all to play for in the second half...
SECOND HALF: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
No changes at half time, but Watford start strongly, they win the ball in mid-field and Janmaat takes it out wide, he whips the ball into the area, Gray holds off the defenders to bring the ball down to Hughes whose shot is blocked by Hennessey
50 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Watford looking way more confident in this half, Deeney wins a header in the box and lays it off to Doucoure who takes a shot, it's blokced but falls to Pereyra and his follow up is sent over the bar
52 mins: GOAL! Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace - Pereyra
Capoue wins the ball in his own half with a good challenge and he runs it forward past three players before passing to Pereyra on the left side. He cuts back in and curls a right footed shot into the bottom corner!
57 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
That goal could do damage to my fantasy team unless Sahko scores for Palace. The visitors looking a little sloppy in this half as Watford look stronger and more aggressive.
60 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Corner for Palace, Townsend whips it in buts it's long and wide
65 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace look to have found their feet in this second half, the put a string of easy passes together a through ball goes out of play, but the signs are better for Roy Hodgson's side
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