Manchester City are unbeaten in twelve straight Premier League games, including the 5-0 win against Watford in the last game of the last season.
Attacking wise the Blues have started to show signs that they are able to play together, and attack as a unit. When they do, as Liverpool and Feyenoord found out, they can be devastating.
At the back is where there is a little concern, although the last two games have seen City keep clean sheets. Vincent Kompany, it seems, has not been missed and that’s a good thing. The Captain will still be out for the trip to Hertfordshire and so defensive duties will fall to Stones and co.
For Watford, who find themselves in fourth position, it will be a real test of their progress under new manager, Marco Silva. Will City be suffering from a European hangover, and how will Pep rotate his starting eleven? Will he rotate his starting eleven?
So far this season Watford have played four, winning and drawing twice. The first game of the season was against Liverpool, at Vicarage Road, and could be the blue print for how they’ll play against City.
In that game Silva played a 4-3-3 with Amrabat on the right of the attacking three, Pereyra on the left and Okaka down the center. Pereyra was injured for the last game but could find his way back into contention for the visit of the blues.
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Younis Kaboul, who played in central defence for that game, will miss the game after picking up a hamstring injury in their last outing against Southampton.
Watford have played the 4-3-3 formation in three of their games before going to a 4-2-3-1 when visiting the Saints, and picking up their second win.
Despite being at home, and despite the success of the 4-3-3, I believe they will start the game with the 4-2-3-1.
Englishman Andre Gray could lead the line, as he did against the Saints with the young Brazilian Ricarlison pushing up on the left and Carillo on the right.
For Pep, I believe he will start the majority of the side who started midweek, indicated by the fact he substituted Silva, Aguero and Fernandinho during the second half. Maybe the next game, a Carabao Cup fixture away to West Brom, will be where some of the main men get a rest and we will see rotation.
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Starting 11: Ederson, Walker, Mendy, Danilo, Stones, Otamendi, Fernandinho, Silva, DeBruyne, Aguero and Jesus.