EPL: Watford v Leicester City preview
Watford v Leicester City preview
Watford will be looking for their first win in over a month when they host Leicester on Boxing Day.
The Hornets have faded after a positive start to the season and have lost five of their six matches in the Premier League.
Speaking after their 1-0 defeat at Brighton on December 23, manager Marco Silva denied that speculation over his position was linked to the poor run of results.
"It doesn't make sense this comparison. Nothing changed in the club," Silva said. "Today we had one game to prepare with three players banned, with five or six players injured. At this moment we have big problems to find the solutions for our starting XI.
"We need to find these solutions as soon as possible because it's a lot of games in a row and it's not easy to make the rotation, it's not easy to start the game with our best XI."
Leicester have been heading in the other direction to Watford with four wins in their last six league games. They scored a late equaliser in their last game to claim a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Marvin Zeegelaar and Abdoulaye Doucoure will return from suspension for Watford.
Defender Zeegelaar has completed a three-match ban following his red card at Burnley earlier this month and midfielder Doucoure is available again after serving a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards.
Captain Troy Deeney is in the middle of a three-match suspension, while Kiko Femenia, Will Hughes (both hamstring), Younes Kaboul, Craig Cathcart, Nathaniel Chalobah, Isaac Success (all knee) and Miguel Britos (knock) are also unavailable to Hornets manager Marco Silva.
Daniel Amartey is banned for Leicester after his dismissal against United on Saturday. The Ghana international replaced the injured Danny Simpson in the second half, but collected two yellow cards in 16 minutes.
Simpson is a doubt for the trip to Vicarage Road with a hamstring problem, leaving Claude Puel with a headache at right back, while Matty James (Achilles) and Robert Huth (ankle) remain sidelined.
Speaking after their 1-0 defeat at Brighton on December 23, manager Marco Silva denied that speculation over his position was linked to the poor run of results.
"It doesn't make sense this comparison. Nothing changed in the club," Silva said. "Today we had one game to prepare with three players banned, with five or six players injured. At this moment we have big problems to find the solutions for our starting XI.
"We need to find these solutions as soon as possible because it's a lot of games in a row and it's not easy to make the rotation, it's not easy to start the game with our best XI."
Leicester have been heading in the other direction to Watford with four wins in their last six league games. They scored a late equaliser in their last game to claim a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.
Marvin Zeegelaar and Abdoulaye Doucoure will return from suspension for Watford.
Defender Zeegelaar has completed a three-match ban following his red card at Burnley earlier this month and midfielder Doucoure is available again after serving a one-match suspension for collecting five yellow cards.
Captain Troy Deeney is in the middle of a three-match suspension, while Kiko Femenia, Will Hughes (both hamstring), Younes Kaboul, Craig Cathcart, Nathaniel Chalobah, Isaac Success (all knee) and Miguel Britos (knock) are also unavailable to Hornets manager Marco Silva.
Daniel Amartey is banned for Leicester after his dismissal against United on Saturday. The Ghana international replaced the injured Danny Simpson in the second half, but collected two yellow cards in 16 minutes.
Simpson is a doubt for the trip to Vicarage Road with a hamstring problem, leaving Claude Puel with a headache at right back, while Matty James (Achilles) and Robert Huth (ankle) remain sidelined.