Manchester United Vs Watford: Match Preview And Prediction

Manchester United Vs Watford: Match Preview And Prediction

Manchester United have a brilliant home record against Watford as they have never suffered defeat at Old Trafford vs the Hornets going 7 wins with 2 draws and no losses. In the Premier League they have won all 3 games between the 2 sides so they will be looking for more of the same. Of course United did lose their previous encounter this season back on the 18th of September when they went down to a very disappointing 3-1 loss at Vicarage Road but this was before the loss to Chelsea and since then as we know they have gone on an unbeaten run in the Premier League which has now stretched to 15 games without defeat.

The only time in fact that the Hornets have beaten the Red-Devils at Old Trafford came back in October of 1978 in the League Cup when Luther Blissett was the hero for Watford as he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory. So you would have to say that history favours United plus they will be eager to gain revenge for the League loss to the Hornets suffered back in September.

If Watford were to pull off the unthinkable and complete the double over United they would add themselves to a pretty exclusive list making themselves only the 9th team to complete a Premier League a double over United in a season as only Liverpool (4 times), Arsenal (3 times), Chelsea (3 times), Man City (3 times), Everton, Blackburn, West Ham and Swansea have managed to pull off the double over the Red-Devils.


From a Hornets point of view, Troy Deeney has actually scored two Premier League goals against United but they were both penalties awarded in the last five minutes of matches and he has also helped United claim victory when he scored a 90th minute own-goal to lift Manchester United to victory back in November of 2015. Deeny actually comes into the game in pretty good form having scored in each of his last 3 Premier League games but he last scored 4 in back-to-back games in the 2015 season – December to be precise.

Wayne Rooney has pretty good recent form vs the Hornets as in his previous 3 games against Watford in all competitions the United captain has provided 3 goals plus 3 assists and in his last appearance against them at Old Trafford he got a goal and an assist back in January 2007.

Looking at recent form, United are enjoying their best Premier League unbeaten run since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in back in 2013 – as mentioned a 15 games unbeaten streak so you would have to say Mourinho’s men are favourites despite their loss back in September to Walter Mazzari.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is 2nd in League scoring with 15 goals and 3 assists and given his fine form and the emergence of Mata and Mkhitaryan in the past couple of months you would have to see United looking good to gain revenge for the 3-1 loss suffered at Vicarage Road. Jose will likely pick a strong side to ensure just that even though Watford have won their last 2 games against Liverpool and Burnley. Given Mkhitaryan’s red-hot form of late you would have to think he is a good bet to open the scoring with his electrifying pace and ability to play that killer through ball not to mention his knack for finishing chances in a sublime fashion and between him and Mata, Martial and Ibrahimovic they must surely have too much for the Hornets.

Since United went down to the lob-sided 0-4 to Chelsea on October 23rd 2016, only Chelsea themselves have won more points with 40 in the Premier League than the Red Devils who have won 31 points.

So looking at it all we think Mkhitaryan and co will continue their fine form and deliver revenge over Watford with a reverse and a solid 3-1 win as Jose will demand revenge and to keep pace with the top 5 now that they have pulled within 1 point of the top 4.