PREM: Watford v Manchester City preview

Watford v Manchester City preview

Manchester City can go five points clear at the top of the Premier League at Watford.

The Premier League champions lead the division by two points but second-placed Liverpool are not back in action until Wednesday night, when they travel to Burnley.

City come up against a Watford side who are without a win in four games, and have picked up only one point in that time - away to relegation-threatened Southampton.

 

Regardless, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said: "Watford have some continuity around the same project, same ideas and same manager. It gives some stability to the club. Hopefully he [Javi Gracia] goes well and he can stay a long time there."

 

The Hornets were again guilty of profligacy in their 2-0 defeat to Leicester on Saturday, where they missed a host of chances before rounding off a miserable afternoon by seeing Etienne Capoue sent off late on.

 

Even so, Javi Gracia's side could move back to sixth with victory, in the Spanish boss' first home game since signing a new four-and-a-half-year contract last week.

Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley may feature for the first time since January on Tuesday night.

Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat are also fit again but Etienne Capoue is banned following Saturday's red card, subject to the outcome of an appeal.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is a major doubt, with Pep Guardiola saying the forward could be out for a month if he aggravates a muscle problem.

Oleksandr Zinchenko has a nose injury and will be assessed.

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is not yet fit to return from damaged knee ligaments.