Manchester City hosts Watford in a matchup of two sides that have already suffered more than their fair share of unexpected setbacks this young season. The Hornets, still the league’s bottom side, were the first Premier League side to sack the manager this season.
As for City, the current treble holders have dropped points not once, but twice already and they’re currently within the midst of a full blown central defense injury crisis right now.
On Wednesday night, they went to Ukraine and blanked Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Champions League play with Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho at center back, and the supposedly aging Brazilian center midfielder has seemed rejuvenated in his new role, having said that he has been training for this situation for some time already.
In central defense, City will be without John Stones for about a month and Aymeric Laporte until February or March. Winger Leroy Sane also remains out until early 2020 while midfielder Phil Foden is set to return after having missed out due to an illness.
On the other side, Watford was relatively impressive in their 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend, and City’s back line can’t take their attack too lightly.
Team captain and star forward Troy Deeney is a long term absentee- having undergone knee surgery at the end of August. Craig Cathcart is the only other Watford player out, having suffered a thigh injury whilst on international duty for Northern Ireland.
Watford at Manchester City FYIs
Manchester City Starting XI: go to this link
Kickoff: Sat Sept 21, City of Manchester Stadium 3:00 pm local
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 83%, Draw 12%, Watford win 5%
Premier League Form Guide: LWWDW Watford DDLLL
Odds via SB Nation: Manchester City win -950, Draw +900, Watford win +2200
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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