Watford vs Man United
Vicarage Road, London
Sunday, 22-12-2019 @5pm
Ref: Lee Mason
Manchester United have won 16 of the past 17 meetings in all competitions, with the exception a 3-1 away league defeat in September 2016. United have scored in their past eight trips to Vicarage Road since a 1-0 league defeat in September 1986.
Manchester United are unbeaten in six league matches (W3, D3). United’s tally of 25 points is their lowest after 17 fixtures of a top-flight season since 1989-90. They have gone 12 league matches – and 13 away league games – without a clean sheet. Both are Premier League club records. The Red Devils have lost just one of their last nine away matches against sides starting the day bottom (W7, D1). Excluding own goals, no player aged 26 or older has scored a Premier League goal for United since April. Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in nine goals in his last nine league matches, with seven goals and two assists.
Watford pair Adam Masina and Roberto Pereyra are likely to return from respective thigh and groin injuries. Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck miss out against their former club, while Jose Holebas, Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat are also absentees.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has returned to training but is not yet ready to feature, while Diogo Dalot is also stepping up his fitness. Eric Bailly, Angel Gomes and Timothy Fosu-Mensah all remain out.
Tottenham vs Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Sunday, 22-12-2019 @7:30pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Tottenham will assess Tanguy Ndombele, who has missed three games with a groin injury, while Michel Vorm is also back in training following a calf problem. Hugo Lloris, Erik Lamela and Ben Davies remain ruled out.
Fikayo Tomori is available for Chelsea after being absent from the last two matchday squads because of a hip injury. Olivier Giroud is also in contention despite a recent ankle injury but Ruben Loftus-Cheek is still sidelined.
Tottenham have won three of their last five Premier League games against Chelsea, as many victories as in the previous 20 league meetings (D9, L8). The Blues have won two of their last 13 league matches away to Spurs (D5, L6). Chelsea have had 53 different Premier League goalscorers against Tottenham (excluding own goals), more than any other side has had against a particular opponent. Having beaten Spurs at White Hart Lane and Wembley, Chelsea can become the first club to win a Premier League away game against the same club at three different venues.
Jose Mourinho has never lost a home fixture against a side he has previously managed, winning 12 and drawing one of 13 such matches in league and cup. Tottenham have won four of their five Premier League games under Mourinho, more victories than in their final 15 matches under Mauricio Pochettino. Mourinho hasn’t lost any of his last 54 Premier League games when his side has scored the opening goal (W48, D6). Spurs are winless in 10 league fixtures against opposition from the established top six since they beat Chelsea at Wembley in November 2018 (D3, L7). Eight of those 10 games were away. Dele Alli has scored five goals in his last four Premier League games against Chelsea. Son Heung-min has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last nine home matches in all competitions, scoring seven and assisting five.
The Blues could lose three consecutive league games for the first time since a similar streak in November 2015, in Jose Mourinho’s penultimate month in charge. Chelsea have lost four of their past five league matches, as many defeats as in their previous 24. They have lost 15 matches in all competitions in 2019 – another loss would give them their highest total of defeats in a calendar year since 17 in 1994. Frank Lampard’s side are one of two clubs yet to win a Premier League point from a losing position this season, along with Norwich.
