Watford vs. Tottenham: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
Tottenham have won consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since early November and now face the difficult task of unseating the division's form team to keep that run going.
Watford are unbeaten in five games, having won four straight before an impressive 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Boxing Day.
This may be their first season back in the top flight, but they are playing like they mean to stay.
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Just three points separate these two teams ahead of a fixture of great significance for the visitors.
Victory would take Spurs into third place on goal difference, leapfrogging Manchester City at least until their clash with Leicester City tomorrow.
In Tottenham's last meeting with Watford in the Premier League, goalkeeper Paul Robinson scored from a long-range free-kick.
Form Lines
Watford
Chelsea 2-2 Watford
Watford 3-0 Liverpool
Watford 0-1 Sunderland
Watford 2-0 Norwich
Aston Villa 2-3 Watford
Watford 1-2 Man Utd
Tottenham
Spurs 3-0 Norwich
Southampton 0-2 Spurs
Spurs 1-2 Newcastle
West Brom 1-1 Spurs
Spurs 0-0 Chelsea
Spurs 4-1 West Ham
Team News
Spurs survived their Boxing Day fixture unscathed so there are no new injuries beyond the long-term absentees Clinton Njie and Alex Pritchard.
For Watford, loanee Nathan Ake is available after sitting out against his parent club on Boxing Day. Tommie Hoban and Joel Ekstrand remain out.
Predicted Formations
Watford
Goalkeeper: Gomes
Defence: Nyom, Cathcart, Britos, Ake
Midfield: Capoue, Jurado, Watson, Behrami
Attack: Deeney, Ighalo
Spurs
Goalkeeper: Lloris
Defence: Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies
Midfield: Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela
Attack: Kane
Player to Watch per side
Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue may have revenge on his mind when his former club arrive at Vicarage Road. He complained that Spurs didn't give him a chance to show his quality in his two years at the club, according to the Daily Mail.
He'll have his chance to impress up against Tottenham's central-midfield powerhouse of Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele.
Watford's approach is, like Tottenham's, team-oriented rather than individual. Both sides work very hard without the ball, but Capoue—the anchor of Watford's midfield—is key to the hosts' hopes of an upset in this clash.
Erik Lamela was applauded for his determined display against Norwich, something that has become routine in recent weeks. Just two days after such a physically demanding performance, Lamela will win over even more of the doubters if he can back it up again.
Key Battle
Odion Ighalo has been one of Watford's key men this season. His 13 goals in 18 appearances, including goals in five consecutive matches, have sparked their surge up the table.
Tottenham's similar push has been built upon their rock-solid defence. Hugo Lloris has kept back-to-back clean sheets before this fixture and will be desperate to keep Ighalo at bay here.
Ighalo has been one of the main beneficiaries of Watford's switch to a 4-4-2 formation, and he will be supported by Jurado and Troy Deeney.
Eric Dier and Tottenham's Belgian trio will have their hands full dealing with the excellent Nigerian and the outcome of that battle will likely decide the match.
Live Stream, TV Info
UK: No live broadcast but BBC Radio 5 live will provide coverage from 3 p.m. GMT.
USA: Live on NBC Premier League Extra from 10 a.m. ET.
Odds
Tottenham are prohibitive favourites to win this match, opening at 107/100. There is little return on that outcome. A draw, at 47/20, is quite an attractive option.
