Watford vs Norwich - Prediction & Match Preview

Watford vs Norwich

SCHEDULE	TIME
GAME	Watford vs Norwich
DATE	21/01/2022
TIME	15:00 PM (UTC)
VENUE	Vicarage Road (Watford)
LEAGUE	Premier League - Round 23

TV Channel Info

More Information

Streaming starts 5 minutes before kick off

Match Preview

◉ For the second time, Watford’s relegation six-pointer with Burnley was called off in midweek, though that has just given their depleted squad some extra days to prepare for another relegation showdown, this time vs Norwich City. The ‘Hornets’ will no doubt look to swarm the opposition, after ending a seven-game losing run with a 1-1 draw last time out.

◉ Watford may need at least a couple of goals though, unless they can keep their first Premier League (PL) clean sheet of the campaign at the 20th attempt. However this game could be their best opportunity to notch that first clean sheet, as they welcome a side that's failed to score on a league-high 14 occasions.

◉ While Norwich have played two games more than Watford, they’ve cut the gap between the sides to one point after a 2-1 victory over Everton last time out – a result which saw the opposing manager sacked! Canaries boss Dean Smith exclaimed that ‘every game is now massive’, after his squad ended a woeful eight-game winless run of league games (D2, L6) with that important victory.

◉ Ever since talismanic forward Teemu Pukki scored at Newcastle back in November, Norwich have played out 281 minutes of PL away football without scoring. During that time, the Canaries have conceded eight consecutive PL away goals, so it comes as no surprise to see they’ve failed to score in ten of their last 12 PL away games

◉ Players to watch: João Pedro scored Watford’s only goal in each of their last two games – the third time since his move to England where he’s netted in back-to-back matches. For Norwich, Adam Idah insisted that everyone played their part in the win last time out, though it was Idah who walked away with the plaudits following his decisive strike in the 18th minute.

◉ Hot stat: Watford manager Claudio Ranieri has seen his side on the day keep clean sheets in three of his four H2Hs vs Norwich (W3, D1).

Watford starting lineup:

Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara; Kayembe; Dennis, Sissoko, Cleverley, Pedro; King

Norwich City starting lineup:

Krul; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams; Sargent, Sorensen, Lees-Melou, Rashica; Pukki, Idah

Prediction

Watford 2-1 Norwich City

Watford are certainly capable of pulling off big results, especially at home, and we just have a feeling for the Hornets here. Norwich will have been boosted by their impressive victory at Everton, but we are expecting Ranieri's side to collect all three points on Friday courtesy of a narrow success.