Manchester City v Watford Match Preview: Every Game is a Final

Manchester City have enjoyed a full 7 days off and now face Watford at home in the Premier League in yet another must win game if City are to retain the Premier League Trophy.

It is almost nice for Manchester City to get back to playing football after a number of tiresome days of repeated allegations about FFP following the publication of out of context hacked emails. I am looking forward to being back at the Etihad Stadium after what feels like a lengthy break and sharing some camaraderie with other City fans.

We have reached the moment in the season where no team can afford to drop points. Every point is precious and like Bruce Forsyth used to say – points mean prizes! There is a chance due to the way the fixtures have fallen that City could extend their lead at the top of the table to 4 points over Liverpool and in preparation for this many in the media have tried to suggest City are feeling under pressure.

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If Guardiola and his side are feeling under stress then that is not clear from the latest photographs taken during training where quite the opposite seemed to be the case. A relaxed and happy squad were pictured enjoying their time after a couple of days rest and recuperation.

In the run up to this match City have endured a significant run of injuries to key individuals, depleting areas of our team. Fernandinho, Stones and Kevin De Bruyne are all sidelined. Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy have returned to training but this fixture is likely to be too soon to see them play. Delph appears to be running again and back with the squad.

Watford have had some mixed results in recent games but seem a stronger opposition than in recent seasons and will be thinking they can get a result against us. It is likely to be a fast and physical encounter and Watford will seek to catch up on the break and at set pieces. It will be interesting to see how Guardiola will approach the game. Is this where City shuffle the pack and change formation to upskittle Watford planning? Or will we see our usual approach of trying to break down a stubborn and stacked defence?

Guardiola will need to have an eye on the Schalke game where the result is not yet secured. With that in mind I expect there may be some rotation against Watford, partly to rest some players for Schalke like Sane.

I am hoping to see City run out more comfortable winners than in recent matches and to blow away some of those negative headlines.

Manchester City predicted Starting XI

Ederson

Walker, Otamendi, Kompany, Zinchenko

Gundogan, Bernardo, Silva

Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling