Watford vs Swansea preview
High-flying Swansea City will visit Vicarage Road looking to extend their remarkable record against newly-promoted sides when they take on Watford on Saturday.
The Swans were excellent last season against newly-promoted sides, as they collected 13 points from the six games in which they faced Leicester City, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers. They could have been genuine title contenders if they managed a similar points-per-game tally against the rest of the Premier League sides.
They are enjoying a strong start to the season and they come into this encounter still undefeated despite facing two title contenders – Chelsea and Manchester United – last month. The Welsh club will undoubtedly be brimming with confidence after the four points they collected from those two big games.
Monk will be expecting another dominant performance against the Hornets. The Swans start the weekend in the top four and Jonjo Shelvey has challenged his teammates to push for the Champions League places. The England midfielder believes his side is “on par” with the top sides.
Watford will be content with just staying up. Quique Sanchez Flores is battling to improve his side’s goal threat as the Hornets have only scored in their season opener so far this campaign.
With that problem in mind, Watford signed three forwards on the deadline day. Sanchez Flores will be thankful for the international break because most of his players spent the last fortnight training together.
Watford team news
- Miguel Britos is still suspended.
- Lloyd Doyley is still recovering from neck surgery he had in May.
- Joel Ekstrand is still months away from a return to action after the ACL knee injury he picked up against Ipswich last season.
Swansea team news
- Jefferson Montero could return to the side after missing the victory over Manchester United with a thigh injury.
Watford vs Swansea prediction
Watford have been poor in front of goal, so maybe two of the three deadline day signings will be involved in their starting XI. Troy Deeney should keep his place as the centre forward, but Victor Ibarbo and Adlene Guedioura may both be drafted into the starting line up as attacking midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Guedioura could slot into the number 10 position, with Ibarbo looking to commit defenders from the right flank by making diagonal runs inside with the ball. Ikechi Anya could retain his place as the other attacking midfielder, while Etienne Capoue and Valon Behrami protect the defenders as central midfielders.
Monk has no reason to make many changes to his side, so Montero’s return could be the only change from the side that started last time out. He could replace Wayne Routledge as the left attacking midfielder, while Andre Ayew drifts inside from the right attacking midfield position.
Shelvey followed his impressive start to the season with two strong performances for England, so the young midfielder is likely to be the central midfielder with the freedom to break forward while Jack Cork protects the defenders.
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored in every league game so far and the former Lyon man will be looking to extend that run as the centre forward in front of Gylfi Sigurdsson in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Watford were very busy in the transfer window and they could eventually become a dangerous force as the season progresses, but they need time to get the best out of their new recruits.
Swansea, on the other hand, have more quality and are already functioning smoothly as a unit. On top of that, they have two in-form strikers in Gomis and Ayew, so this promises to be an away victory.
Score prediction
Watford 0-1 Swansea
