CAN MAN CITY MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE SUMMIT? Hello and welcome to LIVE updates of the Premier League clash between Watford and Man City at Vicarage Road. Kick off 17.30 GMT.
Premier League / Matchday 15
Vicarage Road Stadium / 04.12.2021
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- Cucho(74')
- R. Sterling(4')
- B. Silva(31', 63')
Live
Live Updates
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Updated 04/12/2021 at 19:40 GMT
2'
HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester City are unbeaten in the past 18 encounters with the Hornets in all competitions, scoring 59 goals in total. Watford's most recent top-flight home win versus City was way back in 1985.
1st Half
1'
KICK OFF!
City get us underway.
17.25
DID YOU KNOW?
City have only lost two of their 31 Premier League matches against newly-promoted opposition under Guardiola. That was a 3-2 loss at Norwich City in September 2019 and a 2-1 reversal at home against Leeds United in April 2021.
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Image credit: Eurosport
17.20
17.15
DENNIS THE MENACE
OPTA STAT: Only Mohamed Salah (13 goals and nine assists) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than Watford's Emmanuel Dennis (six goals and five assists).
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Image credit: Getty Images
17.10
EX-MAN UNITED MAN EAGER TO STOP ROT VERSUS CITY
Tom Cleverley: “The thought of playing City isn’t too exciting but these are world-class superstars and we relish the challenge of competing with them. Since I’ve been here our record against City is absolutely terrible so it’s a big motivation of mine to correct that. Let’s give it a crack, no-one will give us much of a chance, but why not clinch our first clean sheet against Man City?”
17.05
LAST-GASP LIVERPOOL SEIZE TOP SPOT - CAN CITY RESPOND?
Ciy are currently third in the table, two points adrift of leaders Liverpool who snatched a late, late 1-0 win at Wolves courtesy of substitute Divock Origi.
Chelsea had been the pace-setters coming into this weekend but the Blues slipped to a 3-2 loss at West Ham in the lunchtime kick off.
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Image credit: Getty Images
17.00
JUST HOW GOOD IS BERNARDO SILVA?
The Portuguese playmaker has notched four goals in seven Premier League outings (the same tally as in his previous 55 appearances) and City stopper, Ederson is convinced his quality puts him on a par with the planet's finest footballers.
Silva is among the five best players in the world. He has an amazing talent. He's short, but it's impossible to take the ball from him. When you see him play, it reminds me a bit of (Lionel) Messi. Obviously, they are different players, but they have similar skills. Bernardo has phenomenal talent, he's an exceptional player. He helps the team a lot, he runs a lot.
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Image credit: Getty Images
16.55
SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE - RANIERI UNBEATEN V CITY
The Italian has not lost any of the nine Premier League matches as a manager versus Manchester City. His return of eight wins in this fixture is his joint-highest total against any team (equalling his record versus Everton).
I know I go against a big, fantastic team. We know, but we have to play and we try to do our best. Of course I want a clean sheet, not only one, but I believe we can achieve a clean sheet if we continue to play in this way.
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Image credit: Getty Images
16.50
WILL PEP CLAIM A PERFECT 10?
Guardiola has a flawless record against the Hornets - can Claudio Ranieri mastermind an end to that run tonight?
16.45
GUARDIOLA - 'WE NEED EVERYONE FRESH TO WIN, WIN AND WIN AGAIN'
Everybody has to be ready and it’s good everyone is back because December is really tough with the amount of games."
16.40
JACK GREALISH AND PHIL FODEN AMONG RETURNING QUINTET FOR CITY
Pep Guardiola makes five changes to the line-up that won 2-1 at Aston Villa in midweek. Grealish, Foden and Ilkay Gundogen come into the attacking midfield positions while Kyle Walker features in the defence along with Aymeric Laporte, who is back from suspension.
It’s just one change for Watford with Danny Rose in at left back to replace the injured Adam Masina.
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Image credit: Getty Images
16.35
CONFIRMED TEAMS - WATFORD: Bachmann, Rose, Ekong, Cathcart, Femenia, Louza, Sissoko, Cleverley, Joao Pedro, Dennis, King... Subs: Elliot, Ngakia, Gosling, Fletcher, Tufan, Kabasele, Hernandez, Kucka, Morris. /// MAN CITY: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Gundogan, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Foden, Grealish, Sterling... Subs: Steffen, Carson, Stones, Ake, Jesus, Zinchenko, De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Mahrez.