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
70 mins: GOAL! Watford 2 - 0 Crystal Palace - Holebas
Holebas makes it two for Watford. He gets the ball on the left hand side of the box, the Watford strikers pile into the box and Holebas whips it in. Is it a cross? Is it a shot? No-one can tell but the ball beats everyone and finishes in the bottom corner of the net.
75 mins: Watford 2 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace could consider themselves a little unlucky here, they were the dominant side in the first half but have been timid since the break, a goal for them would make things interesting but Watford have been brilliant in this second half and have scored two fantastic goals
77 mins: GOAL! Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace - Zaha
What did I say? Zaha gets one back for Palace he combines with Meyer on the left and nutmegs the keeper to score
82 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford win a corner, Holebas delivers it but the resulting header is sent wide
85 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Palace win a free kick in a good area but Deeney clears the ball for Watford, Sema claims it and holds it up well winning a free kick for the home side
88 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford tried to keep the ball in the corner but Holebas lets it go out for a goal kick, it's booted long and Zaha wins a corner. It's played short and the ball comes into the box Sorloth jumps high but can't quite reach the ball to head it towards goal.
90 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
5 minutes added time, and Palace get another goal kick
90+2 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford take the ball into the corner but Palace win a throw in, Watford press high and Sema wins a corner for the hosts.
90+3 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford try to keep the ball in the corner but Palace get a goal kick, Watford win it back though and we're down to the dying embers of this game
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