West Ham United vs Watford
London Stadium, London
Friday, 17-07-2020 @10pm
Ref: Martin Atkinson
West Ham have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Friday’s clash with fellow relegation battlers Watford at the London Stadium. Midfielder Robert Snodgrass, yet to feature since the season restart because of a back problem. Boss David Moyes said on Thursday that forward Felipe Anderson was “getting a bit closer” to a comeback after missing three games with a hamstring issue.
Watford manager Nigel Pearson expects to pick from the same squad as he did for Saturday’s come-from-behind 2-1 win over Newcastle. Troy Deeney continues to manage a knee situation but Pearson said it was not a significant concern. Daryl Janmaat, Gerard Deulofeu (both knee) and Isaac Success (Achilles) remain sidelined through injury.
West Ham have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with Watford (L1), as many as they had in their first nine such games against them (D2 L4). 60 per cent of Watford’s Premier League wins against West Ham have been away from home (3/5) – their six visits to the Hammers in the PL have seen them alternate between a defeat and a victory each time, winning this fixture last season.
West Ham are looking to pick up back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since August 2019 following their 4-0 win at Norwich last time out. Their consecutive victories back in August came against Watford and Norwich. Watford have won their last two Premier League games, despite conceding the first goal both times. Only three teams have ever won 3+ Premier League games in a row despite conceding first – Arsenal (four in March 2012), Manchester United (three in January 2003) and Leeds (three in November 1997). Watford have lost their last four away league games by an aggregate score of 0-8. It’s their longest losing run on the road since May 2018, in a run of six straight defeats in which they also failed to score a single goal. Watford have won their last two Premier League games on Friday, beating Cardiff City in February 2019 (5-1) and Norwich City in November 2019 (2-0). West Ham have won just one of their last five Premier League games on Friday (W1 D1 L3). West Ham’s Mark Noble has scored three goals in his last two league games against Watford. In his league career, he’s netted five goals against the Hornets, versus no other side has he scored more. Michail Antonio has been involved in 78 per cent of West Ham’s Premier League goals since the restart (7/9), scoring six and assisting one. He netted all four of their goals in their 4-0 win at Norwich last time out, doubling his Premier League tally for the season.
Results this week
Monday, 13-07-2020
-Man United 2-2 Southampton
Tuesday, 14-07-2020
-Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City
Wednesday, 15-07-2020
-Burnley 1-1 Wolves
-Man City 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
-Newcastle United 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur
-Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
Thursday, 16-07-2020
-Everton 1-1 Aston Villa
-Leicester City 2-0 Sheffield United
-Southampton 1-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
-Crystal Palace 0-2 Man United
