Innocent AndrewManchester United take on Watford at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon and will be aiming to strengthen their grip on this season’s Champions League places.
Both sides will be desperate for three points but for contrasting reasons with United aiming for the top four and Watford trying to avoid relegation.
United picked up a positive first leg result in the Champions League in midweek when they drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Reds struggled in the match and were frustrated by the home side who scored early on through Joao Felix and kept their defensive shape well throughout.
However, United found a breakthrough courtesy of second half substitute Anthony Elanga who scored with his first touch of the game and handed United a fairly positive result.
Ralf Rangnick’s men come into Saturday’s fixture on good form with them being unbeaten in the league since the 1-0 defeat against Wolves back at the start of 2022.
United currently occupy fourth spot in the Premier League after back to back wins against Brighton & Hove Albion and Leeds United. Saturday afternoon signifies an important fixture for the Reds with top four challengers Arsenal defeating Wolves on Thursday night.
The Reds have lost just one of their last 14 in England’s top flight and will be aiming to make it three wins on the bounce for the first time since the turn of the new year.
Watford were on the receiving end of 4-1 hammering at Vicarage Road on Wednesday and will be keen to put things right in their bid to avoid relegation back to England’s second tier.
Roy Hodgson recently took over the managerial role at Watford and it’s fair to say that it has not been an easy ride so far with the team picking up just three points from their last four games.
The last time that the two sides met back in November 2021, it ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as manager when his side were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Claudio Ranieri’s Watford.
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Scott McTominay and Edinson Cavani both missed the clash in the Champions League during midweek but they could return to the starting XI later today.
As for the visitors, Hodgson told reporters that Joshua King had picked up a knock during midweek. Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka are also doubtful for the game with respective injuries.
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United come into this one off the back of a draw during midweek against Atletico but prior to that, the Reds had registered consecutive wins against both Brighton and Leeds in the league.
Watford will also be eager to leave Manchester with three points – having won just one of their last 14 games in all competitions. The sole victory did come fairly recently when the Hornets overcame Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.
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