Norwich vs Watford preview, predictions & possible XIs
Watford travel to Norwich on Friday night in a clash between the Premier League’s bottom two sides.
The Hornets have failed to win in each of their opening 11 games and sit rooted to the bottom of the table with just five points so far, having scored just six goals – the division’s lowest amount.
Things aren’t much better for Daniel Farke’s Norwich who, after some promising early showing this season, sit 19th and just two points ahead of Friday’s opponents after losing five of their six games since a shock win over Manchester City in September.
Who can win out in this Premier League basement battle? Or will it be a tense, nervous affair where both sides earn a relatively useless draw?
Read on for Norwich v Watford predictions, preview, team news and TV coverage information.
When is Norwich vs Watford and where can I watch live?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Carrow Road
Date: Friday, 8 November 2019
Kick-off: 8:00 PM (UK time)
TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League
Last five meetings: Norwich vs Watford
11 May 2016: Norwich 4-2 Watford (Premier League)
05 Dec 2015: Watford 2-0 Norwich (Premier League)
21 Feb 2015: Watford 0-3 Norwich (Championship)
16 Aug 2014: Norwich 3-0 Watford (Championship)
24 Sep 2013: Watford 2-3 Norwich (League Cup)
Aggregate Score: Norwich (WLWWW) 13-6 Watford (LWLLL)
Ones to watch
Norwich: Emiliano Buendia
Norwich really have struggled since that win over Man City but one player who cannot be blamed is Emiliano Buendia.
While his teammates have looked hapless and hopeless, the Argentine has continued to lay on chances at a remarkable rate, proving a threat for any opposition. He will need a repeat of that again on Friday, although he will surely be looking to those around him to start chipping in too.
Key stat: Buendia ranks third in the Premier League for chances created (28), while only Kevin De Bruyne has more than his four assists.
Watford: Troy Deeney
Watford are desperately short of goals, so the return to fitness of Troy Deeney after knee surgery will be a massive boost for Quique Sanchez Flores.
The 31-year-old is strong enough to outfight any Premier League centre-back, while his underrated ball-playing skills bring others into play and give the Hornets a great platform to get up the pitch.
He will be itching for minutes against the division’s second-worst defence.
Key stat: Deeney has scored more Premier League goals since the start of the 2016/17 (24) season than any other Watford player.
Team news
Norwich
Centre-backs Timm Klose (knee ligament damage), Grant Hanley (groin injury) and Christoph Zimmermann (foot injury) are all out for Friday’s game, leaving Farke desperately short of defensive options. Alex Tettey may once again have to fill in at centre-back.
Teemu Pukki hasn’t scored since September but is expected to start.
Predicted XI: Krul; Aarons, Tettey, Godfrey, Lewis; Cantwell, McLean; Buendia, Stiepermann, Hernandez; Pukki.
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Watford
Deeney has returned from the minor knee operation he had in August and Flores may be tempted to throw him straight back into the action as he desperately tries to find more goals for his side.
Etienne Capoue and Ismaila Sarr have both returned to training but are unlikely to be ready in time for the trip to Carrow Road.
Predicted XI: Foster; Janmaat, Kabasele, Dawson, Masina; Deulofeu, Doucoure, Chalobah, Pereyra; Gray, Deeney.
Squawka prediction
Watford have struggled this season and face an opponent on Friday who they traditionally don’t do well against.
If Deeney is firing on all cylinders, the Hornets could just have enough to get the win, taking them above Norwich and potentially kick-starting their season. But that’s a big if.
Scoreline prediction: Norwich 1-2 Watford
