Watford vs Leicester
Vicarage Road, London
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @2:30pm
Ref: Craig Powson
Watford have won three successive home league games against Leicester, all by a 2-1 scoreline. All 10 of Watford’s Premier League points against the Foxes have come at Vicarage Road (W3, D1, L1). Nine of the 11 Premier League encounters have been won by the home side, including each of the past seven. Leicester have scored in all 19 top-flight meetings.
Watford captain Troy Deeney is likely to be involved despite returning to training later than his team-mates due to concerns over coronavirus. Daryl Janmaat, Gerard Deulofeu and Isaac Success have all been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Leicester midfielder Dennis Praet has a tight calf and is being assessed but Ayoze Perez and Ryan Bennett have both been passed fit. Ricardo Pereira and Daniel Amartey are all still sidelined.
Watford’s sole triumph in seven league games was February’s 3-0 victory over leaders Liverpool (D2, L4). They have claimed 13 points in six home fixtures since Nigel Pearson took charge in December, second only to Liverpool’s tally of 18 over the same period. Three of Watford’s six league wins have been at home against sides in the top seven prior to the latest round of matches. They have taken 14 points against teams in the top half, opposed to 13 versus bottom-half clubs. The Hornets have failed to score in a league-high 13 games this campaign. Watford have kept seven home clean sheets, the joint-best tally in the division alongside Burnley. Ismaila Sarr has been directly involved in seven goals in his last nine league appearances, scoring four and setting up three.
Leicester have won only four of their past 13 Premier League fixtures (D3, L6). They are winless in three away league games and have failed to score in the last two. The Foxes have taken 36 points from a possible 45 against teams currently in the bottom half (W12, D1, L2). The next goal scored by Jamie Vardy will be his 100th in the Premier League. Vardy is currently the Premier League top scorer this season with 19 goals in 26 appearances. The fixture will be Brendan Rodgers’ 200th Premier League match as a manager. He is the second Northern Irishman to reach this landmark, after Martin O’Neill (359).
Brighton vs Arsenal
American Express Community Stadium, East Sussex
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @5pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Arsenal have already continued with their troubles as the lost two players to injury in the 3-0 loss to Man City on Wednesday. The Gunners sit 9th, 8 points adrift of 4th place and they will be hoping for much needed momentum on Saturday.
For Brighton, they are also desperate for points as they are yet to win a game this year and sit just two points away from the relegation zone.
Brighton forward Aaron Connolly has fully recovered from knee and ankle injuries and is pushing for a start on Saturday. Long-term absentee Jose Izquierdo is the only player unavailable to head coach Graham Potter.
Granit Xhaka could miss out for Arsenal because of an ankle problem, while Pablo Mari also joined Arsenal’s lengthy injury list in midweek at Manchester City. David Luiz begins a two-game ban. Mesut Ozil’s fitness continues to be assessed ahead of a potential recall.
Brighton lost the first Premier League meeting between the sides in October 2017 but are unbeaten in the subsequent four games (W2, D2). The Seagulls are looking to complete their first league double over the Gunners. Arsenal are winless in four away league games against Brighton (D1, L3), last winning in April 1981.
Brighton are the only side in the top four English divisions yet to win a league game in 2020; they have drawn six matches and lost three. The Seagulls could equal their top-flight club record of 10 matches without a win on Saturday. Albion have won just one of their past eight home league fixtures (D4, L3). Brighton have accrued 29 points after 29 games. That is four points down on this stage of last year, and five adrift of their tally in 2017-18.
Defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday ended Arsenal’s unbeaten league start to the calendar year (W4, D4). The Gunners have won only two of their 14 away league fixtures this season (D8, L4). Ninth-placed Arsenal have lost only one of their 17 league fixtures against teams currently below them in the table (W8, D8). That defeat was against Brighton. Arsenal have scored only eight league goals outside of London this term, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang providing seven of those. Aubameyang has scored 49 goals in 76 league appearances. Thierry Henry holds the Arsenal club record for fewest appearances to reach 50 Premier League goals, taking 83 matches. The Gunners have had a league-high three players sent off since Mikel Arteta became head coach in December.
West Ham United vs Wolves
London Stadium, London
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @7:30pm
Ref: Anthony Taylor
West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna could feature, having returned to training after an unspecified injury caused him to miss the club’s recent friendlies. The Hammers have not reported any other fresh injury problems.
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo also has no new fitness concerns ahead of the trip to London. He must decide whether to give a start to Adama Traore, who came off the bench in Wolves’ most recent Premier League match.
Wolves have won the past three meetings, with West Ham failing to score in any of those games. Wolves have also won on two of their last three league visits to West Ham.
Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace
Vitality Stadium, Dorset
Saturday, 20-06-2020 @9:45pm
Ref: Scot Attwell
Palace are looking to complete a league double over Bournemouth for only the third time. This is the 37th season they’ve been in the same league. The Eagles have won only four of their previous 36 away league visits to Bournemouth (D10, L22).
Ryan Fraser has played his last game for Bournemouth after rejecting a short-term contract extension. However, David Brooks, Steve Cook, Arnaut Danjuma and Lloyd Kelly are all fit, while Charlie Daniels is nearing a return from a long-term knee injury.
Crystal Palace’s Mamadou Sakho is available for the first time since New Year’s Day after a hamstring problem. Jeffrey Schlupp, Martin Kelly and James Tomkins have all been confirmed as injury absentees.
The other Premier League games this weekend
Sunday, 21-06-2020
-Newcastle United vs Sheffield United @4pm
-Aston Villa vs Chelsea @6:15pm
-Everton vs Liverpool @9pm
Monday, 22-06-2020
-Man City vs Burnley @10pm
Friday, 19-06-2020
-Norwich City 0-3 Southampton
-Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Man United
