Manchester City vs Watford Predictions

• Manchester City have won each of their last five meetings with Watford by an aggregate scoreline of 24-2.
• Watford have lost five of their seven games under Roy Hodgson, failing to score in four of them.
• Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine in all competitions.

Rotated City have the beating of Watford

Manchester City’s dreams of a treble went out of the window last weekend as a ruthless Liverpool side gave themselves a three-goal cushion in the first-half of their FA Cup semi-final, but Pep Guardiola’s side are still in the driving seat when it comes to the Premier League.

That defeat at Wembley was the second time in a week they had faced Liverpool but the previous instalment at the Etihad – a 2-2 draw- was much more favourable for City as they maintained their slender lead in the Premier League title race.

With a first-leg tie against Real Madrid coming up in midweek we can expect to see some changes from Guardiola, but even with that in mind a comfortable victory for the hosts is expected.

Hornets prepare for the drop

Watford lost again last weekend to leave themselves six points adrift of safety and, with the two teams above them both having a game in hand, relegation looks almost a certainty at this point.

Appointed in January, the seasoned Roy Hodgson has been unable to inject any life into the Hornets and they have taken just four points from his seven games in charge, failing to score in four of these games.

History on City’s side

History is not on Watford’s side in this tie. In their five competitive meetings with Manchester City since 2019 they have lost all five, conceding a gigantic 24 goals and scoring just twice.

The last two trips to the Etihad for Watford have resulted in a 14-0 aggregate loss and Manchester City have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine in all competitions, so a bet of Manchester City to win to nil appeals along with a repeat of their midweek 3-0 win in the correct score market.

Manchester City predicted lineup: Ederson; Cancelo, Dias, Laporte, Zinchenko; Fernandinho, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Grealish, Sterling, Jesus

Watford predicted lineup: Foster; Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara; Louza, Sissoko, Kucka; Sarr, Pedro, Dennis

• Manchester City have won four of their last six Premier League matches
• Manchester City’s last three victories have been accompanied by a clean sheet

Spotlight Insights combine the best data and editorial expertise to give you an extra angle.