Watford vs Leicester City Preview and Prediction

Watford vs Leicester City Match Preview

Leicester City visit the Vicarage Road on Saturday to face a struggling Watford in the EFL Championship, as the league leaders aim to extend their winning run to three games.

Since returning to second vision last summer following their top-flight relegation, Leicester have been on a fine run of form, almost determined to make an immediate return to the first division. So far, it’s going great, with the Foxes sitting at the top of the table with 72 points from 30 games, 11 clear of second-placed Southampton, who have two games in hand over them. The former Premier League champions even come into the fixture on the back of a stunning 5-0 demolition of Stoke City last weekend, which saw Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy both bag braces. 

With so much momentum under their belt, Leicester are breathing fire right now and well on their way toward clinching a direct promotion back to the Premier League. By contrast, Watford are languishing below the mid-table in 11th following what’s been an underwhelming campaign for the Hornets.

Now in their second consecutive season in the Championship, Watford have won only 30% of their matches so far, with their 10th and most recent league victory coming on 14 January 2024, a 2-1 win away to Queens Park Rangers. Since then, the Hertfordshire outfit have gone off the boil once again, drawing consecutively to Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday, before a 1-0 home loss to Cardiff City on Saturday.

A leaky defence has been Watford’s biggest Achilles as the side has shipped in 39 goals so far, the most among any side in the top 14 places of the league after only Preston North End (49) and Norwich City (45).

Team News & Predicted Lineups

Daniel Bachmann sustained a knock during their FA Cup tie against Southampton on Wednesday and will thereby miss the game on Saturday. Edo Kayembe and Jeremy Ngakia are the other absentees for Watford.

Head coach Valerien Ismael is likely to field the same lineup that took on Cardiff City in their last Championship game with Emmanuel Dennis returning to XI here for their only possible change.

Predicted XI: Ben Hamer; Ryan Andrews, Wesley Hoedt, Mattie Pollock, Jamal Lewis; Tom Dele-Bashiru, Jake Livermore, Ismael Kone; Yaser Asprilla, Vakoun Bayo, Emmanuel Denis

Leicester City will be without Kelechi Iheanacho for the trip as the forward is still on duty with the Nigerian national team at the 2023 African Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, his compatriot Wilfried Ndidi is the only other notable injury concern for the Foxes right now.

In a boost for head coach Enzo Maresca, Harry Souttar is back in the fold after returning from the 2023 AFC Asian Cup following Australia’s exit. James Justin is also likely to replace Callum Doyle at the left-back spot. 

Prolific forward Patson Daka has netted six times in just eight league starts, the best average of any player in the Championship right now, and following his two-goal heroics against Stoke last weekend, the Zambian international will be hungry to add to his goal tally. 

The evergreen Jamie Vardy has netted six goals in his last three appearances against Watford, having struck a brace each time, including in their 2-1 victory in November last year. However, the Englishman could still see himself on the bench here, with Maresca looking to use him as an impact substitute. 

Predicted XI: Mads Hermansen; Ricardo Pereira, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, James Justin; Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Harry Winks; Abdul Fatawu, Kasey McAteer, Stephy Mavdidi; Patson Daka

Watford vs Leicester City Head-To-Head 

Last 5 games head-to-head

Leicester City 2-0 Watford (Championship, November 2023)

Watford 1-5 Leicester City (Premier League, May 2022)

Leicester City 4-1 Watford (FA Cup, January 2022)

Leicester City 4-2 Watford (Premier League, November 2021)

Watford 1-1 Leicester City (Premier League, June 2020)

As you can see, Leicester City have run riot in the fixture in recent times. In fact, they haven’t lost to Watford since March 2019, a run that currently stands at six games. Even now, the sides are on a contrasting run of form, with Leicester flying high in first position and looking well-placed to secure an immediate promotion, while Watford are struggling with mid-table mediocrity. 

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Prediction

Leicester City are odds on favorite to win here, given their terrific record in the fixture over the last few games, and Watford’s own struggles right now.  The Foxes are armed with one of the most menacing attacking Arsenal in the Championship and have the might to make mincemeat of Watford’s fragile defense.

Predicted score: Watford 1-3 Leicester City

Betting Tips

• Leicester City to win
• More than 2.5 goals: yes
• Both teams to score: yes

Odds (Subject to Change)

• Watford: 4.3
• Draw: 3.45
• Leicester City: 1.76
• Odds Source: Oddspedia.com

Watford vs Leicester City Timings and Telecast

• Date & Time: Saturday, 10th February 2024 at 3:00 PM GMT
• India: Star Sports, Hotstar
• UK: Sky Sports
• US: ESPN+

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