Manchester United had to fight hard to get a 1-0 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend. They must have thought lightning was going to strike twice in the same place when Huddersfield went 1-0 up at home to Manchester City but then had to watch City get that fortunate win to remain eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. Now United face a tricky away game at in-form Watford.
That home win maintained United’s 100 percent home league record but it’s on their travels where they are losing the battle against City. Six away league matches have produced just eight points, compare that to the 21 that the league leaders have earned in their seven away matches.
United have shown plenty of weaknesses on their travels this season. There was that 2-2 draw they had to salvage at Stoke City and of course the defeats at Huddersfield Town and Chelsea. Only one win in five away league games and two in the last ten illustrates the problems that United have had away from home in the past few months. Romelu Lukaku hasn’t quite been the prolific goal scorer he was at the start of the season and he hasn’t scored an away goal in the Premier League since scoring the winner against Southampton on September 23.
Winning this game will narrow the gap at the top to five points as City don’t play until Wednesday. However, anything but a win will leave City with a golden opportunity to go at least ten points clear of their local rivals with that big clash at Old Trafford on the horizon.
Watford had lost three league games in a row before beating West Ham United 2-0 at home. They followed that up with an impressive 3-0 victory at Newcastle on Saturday and they start this game in eighth place only four points behind fourth placed Arsenal.
Form has picked up despite the constant rumours that manager Marco Silva might be on his way to Everton to rescue them from their current woes. Just a statement from him saying I’m going nowhere would help but it hasn’t affected Watford on the pitch. Richarlison, Doucoure and Hughes are in top form and the powerful Manchester United midfield won’t have it all their way in this game.
Home form hasn’t been that great this season with two wins, two draws and two defeats. They have conceded 11 home league goals and only Everton and Crystal Palace have let in more, but six of those 11 goals were scored when Manchester City went on the rampage at Vicarage Road in September. Another three came when Liverpool drew 3-3 here on the opening day of the season, so take those two games away and they have conceded three in four matches. Looking at those two games where lots of goals have been conceded, you might worry that Watford can’t cope with the top teams, but they have beaten Arsenal 2-1 at home this season.
Conclusion
United need to start winning away games if they want to have any chance of catching the league leaders. Two of their last three away Premier League matches have ended in defeat and after this match they travel to Arsenal at the weekend. Watford are in good form but do have those occasional off-days. If they can continue their good form, then United will do well to get a win. A double chance bet on Watford winning or drawing could pay dividends as well as one on both teams to score.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Watford – WWLLL
Manchester United – WWLWL
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
11/02/17 – Manchester United 2 Watford 0
18/09/16 – Watford 3 Manchester United 1
02/03/16 – Manchester United 1 Watford 0
21/11/15 – Watford 1 Manchester United 2
31/01/07 – Manchester United 4 Watford 0
- Manchester United have won 10 of their last 11 league games against Watford.
- Manchester United have scored in each of their last five league visits to Watford.
- Watford have kept two consecutive league clean sheets.
- Watford have won two of their last three home league games beating Arsenal and West Ham United.
- Watford have scored in seven of their last eight league games.
- Manchester United have lost their last two away league games and three of their last four league and cup matches.
- Manchester United have only one win in their last five away Premier League games and two of the last ten.
- Three of the last four Manchester United away league games have had under 2.5 goals scored in them.
- Manchester United have only scored more than once in two of their last ten away Premier League games.