Watford vs Leicester City Predictions

• Watford have only lost three of their last 12 Premier League home games.
• Leicester have won just two of their last eight league matches.
• Jamie Vardy has scored nine goals in 11 away appearances this season and has scored in each of his last four against Watford.
• Five of Watford’s home league games this season have ended as draws.

Watford’s battle for survival resumes

A host of high profile Watford staff publicly expressed concerns over restarting the season, but on Saturday they’ll be thrown back into the mix as they look to strengthen their battle against relegation.

Troy Deeney has been convinced to return to training and hands a big boost to The Hornets’ survival chances, and a relatively favourable run of fixtures will also serve to lift spirits around the club.

The hosts entered the enforced break 17th in the table, only above Bournemouth on goal difference and coming off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace. However, their last home match was an astonishing 3-0 thrashing of the previously-unbeaten Liverpool in a match that showed the potential of this squad.

Foxes look to talisman Vardy

Leicester have certainly showed every bit of their potential this season. The most shocking Premier League champions in history currently reside comfortably in the top four, eight points clear of Manchester United in 5th and only four off Manchester City above them.

The Foxes returned to winning ways just before the break with a 4-0 drubbing of Aston Villa, which included a Jamie Vardy brace to end his mini goal-drought and put him two goals clear in the race for the Golden Boot.

Of course, securing Champions League football is more important than Vardy’s personal accolades. However, it’s clear that for Leicester to taste success they need their talisman firing on all cylinders and there’s a very good chance he could bring his A-game on Saturday.

Nine of Vardy’s 19 Premier League goals this season have come in just 11 away appearances and he’s scored in each of his last four meetings with Watford. The veteran striker had been looking tired at times and is likely to have found the three-month break revitalising, so he’s definitely one to watch.

Hornets can avoid defeat on Saturday

As a whole, Leicester hadn’t been playing particularly well in the months leading up to the break. They have won just two of their last eight Premier League matches and are without a win in three away from home.

Watford were also struggling, but their performances at Vicarage Road had really picked up. In fact, the hosts have won four of their last six at home and, despite their lowly standing, have only lost three of their last 12 league games there.

This includes victories against Manchester United, Wolves and Liverpool as well as draws with Spurs and Arsenal. The only top half sides they’ve lost at home to this season are Chelsea and Burnley, and considering Leicester’s lack of form we’re predicting the Hornets to get something from this game.

A draw does look the more likely outcome though. Watford have drawn five of their last 12 at Vicarage Road and, with an average of 1.14 goals scored and 1.21 goals conceded per home game, a 1-1 correct score prediction seems a good choice.

Key Battle – Ismailla Sar vs Ben Chilwell

Ismailla Sarr has been a frustrating figure for Watford this season, with his performances rounding up all of Watford’s performances in a near little bundle. Sarr is clearly a talented right winger with pace to burn, but far too often he finds himself on the periphery of the game and struggling to make an impact. That’s pretty much the story of Watford’s season.

But Sarr has shown signs of improvement. He has scored four goals and provided three assists in his last nine Premier League appearances, and if he shows up on Saturday he could be a real handful for Leicester’s promising young left back Ben Chilwell.

The 23-year-old is widely thought to be on his way out of the King Power Stadium this summer, but he’ll be the one tasked to keep Sarr quiet on Saturday. That being said, the defensive side of his game isn’t quite up to the standard he sets when going forward, and Sarr has the beating of him if he can find his form.

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