Aston Villa vs Watford preview, predictions & possible XIs
Aston Villa host Watford on Tuesday evening in a Premier League relegation six-pointer.
Dean Smith’s men have won just two of their last 10 top-flight games in a run which has seen them slip to 18th in the table with just 15 matches left to play.
Watford, meanwhile, have been resurgent under Nigel Pearson and are now unbeaten in their last six Premier League games, leapfrogging Villa into 17th during that time.
Can Villa dump Watford back into the bottom three or will the in-form Hornets pull further clear of their relegation rivals?
When is Aston Villa vs Watford and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Villa Park
Date: Tuesday, 21 January 2020
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): N/A
Last five meetings: Aston Villa vs Watford
28 Dec 2019: Watford 3-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
30 Apr 2016: Watford 3-2 Aston Villa (Premier League)
28 Nov 2015: Aston Villa 2-3 Watford (Premier League)
20 Jan 2007: Aston Villa 2-0 Watford (Premier League)
16 Sep 2006: Watford 0-0 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Aggregate Score: Aston Villa (LLLWD) 6-9 Watford (WWWLD)
Ones to watch
Aston Villa: Tyrone Mings
With Villa short of options up front it’s absolutely vital they keep things tight at the back to give themselves the best possible chance of a result on Tuesday.
The likes of Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu will provide a stern test, but England international Tyrone Mings has proved time and again this season that he’s up to the task.
Manager Smith will be relying on him to marshall the backline once more.
Key stat: TyroneMings has won possession more times (125) than any other Aston Villa player in the Premier League this season.
Watford: Troy Deeney
Great credit must go to Pearson for steadying the ship at Watford, but it simply wouldn’t have been possible without the return of talismanic striker Deeney.
We all know just how powerful the 31-year-old is both in the air and with his hold-up play, but Deeney is also a very underrated ball-player and is a brilliant link man for the likes of Deulofeu and Roberto Pereyra.
Mings will have to be at his very best to keep Deeney contained on Tuesday.
Key stat: Troy Deeney has scored four goals in his last six Premier League games, including a brace against Villa back in December.
Team news
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Jed Steer remain sidelined, with Pepe Reina set to make his home debut between the sticks.
John McGinn, Wesley and Keinan Davis are all out while Jonathan Kodija has joined Qatari side Al-Gharafa. Reinforcements up front can’t come quick enough.
Predicted XI: Reina; Konsa, Mings, Hause; El Mohamady, Nakamba, Drinkwater, Targett; El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Grealish.
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Watford
Danny Welbeck is nearing a return to fitness but is unlikely to be risked, while Smith has confirmed winger Ismaila Sarr is out with a hamstring injury.
Tom Cleverley, Sebastian Prodl, Daryl Janmaat and Will Hughes all remain sidelined while full-back Kiko Femenia is a doubt.
Predicted XI: Foster; Mariappa, Dawson, Cathcart, Masina; Chalobah, Capoue; Pereyra, Doucoure, Deulofeu; Deeney.
Squawka prediction
The importance of this game will not be lost on either manager — lose and you take a huge tumble toward the trap door, win and you make a massive stride toward safety.
Villa have struggled for consistency recently and without a recognised striker in the squad, it’s hard to envisage them beating an in-form Watford side, even at home.
However, they have enough quality at the back in Reina and Tyrone Mings to hold out for a draw, keeping them in touch with the Hornets in the relegation scrap.
Scoreline prediction: Aston Villa 0-0 Watford
Check out more of Squawka’s Premier League predictions here.