The Premier League matchweek commences on Friday as Brentford Community Stadium welcomes Watford. Both the teams sit out of the relegation zone, opposite to what most of the predictions before the season said. Brentford clearly are on a better end as they are 7 points clear off the danger while one extra win separates Watford and Burnley in 18th. The Bees ended a 13 game long drought of a win against the Hornets in the Championship last season and now would love to create a streak of their own as they face each other for the first time in the top flight of English Football. With Watford finding their mojo under Claudio Ranieri, it wouldn’t be a fair match up to back the Hornets this weekend despite Ivan Toney’s threat upfront. Check out the latest betting odds before this weekend’s matches, if you’re looking for some punter come the weekend and beyond.
WHERE AND WHEN?
Venue: Brentford Community Stadium.
Date: Friday, 10th December 2021.
Time: 21:00 (BST).
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Oliver.
Assistant referee: Stuart Burt, Simon Benett.
Fourth official: Mike Dean.
VAR: Jarred Gillet, Dan Cook.
TEAM NEWS
The home team will miss Ivan Toney, Da Silva, Ajer, David Raya, Mathias Jorgensen, Tariqe Fosu Henry and Sergi Canos. All of them miss due to injuries except Canos who is suspended for the game and also the reoccurrence of the virus impacts Bees’ star striker Ivan Toney.
Watford’s long list of injuries just does not seem to reduce as Nkoulou, Sarr, Etebo, Baah, Foster, and Masina will miss the game. Thankfully, they do not have any suspensions to add up on this.
MATCH ANALYSIS
After facing each other in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions of English Football, both the promoted teams will face each other in English Football’s top flight for the first time. The game will have a lot at stake as the visitors have an opportunity to reduce the gap to appoint with their opponents of the night but a loss might just push them in the danger zone with Burnley having a game in hand. Brentford will be back at their home with full of confidence as they managed all three points in their last home game, played against Everton, and also were victims of dying minutes equalizer courtesy Bamford in their last game against Leeds. But injuries definitely make things difficult for Thomas Frank who has to worry about the upcoming congested fixture list.
Watford are one team one can not rule out on their day. They after an impressive performance against Manchester United were able to produce a great game against Chelsea, remaining unlucky to not get even a point from the game. Manchester City were a difficult nut to crack and the Hornets did fall short of hosting the Premier League leaders. This is a game which Ranieri will for sure look as a certain 3 pointer and a win here despite injury crisis is certainly possible due to the spirits the players have shown on the pitch. Teamwork with a glimpse of individual brilliance can certain a win for the Hornets but as we move closer to the match, it looks like a game ending in a stalemate.
PLAYERS ANALYSIS
Emmanuel Dennis- Watford
11 goal contributions in 14 matches for a team in 17th position is more than enough to show the impact of the player on his team. This accounts for contributions of more than 50% in the league for the Hornets and despite Sarr being sidelined, Watford are being provided the goal share they need. A good operator of the ball from both the wings, Dennis will be a cause of concern for Frank and his team who have conceded at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 5 games. He was good against a back 5 of Chelsea and could use the same strategy to break through the 5 men defense of the Bees.
Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford
Goals for Brentford have to be distributed in absence of Ivan Toney up top and one has to look not far from his striking partner, Mbeumo. The man is just unlucky to not score enough this season and a bit of luck might just do wonders for Frank’s team. He will be accompanied with Wissa up top, who will try to build chemistry with. Creating 14 big chances already this season, Mbeumo has the instinct to go for goals and against Watford he really could be a weapon to look out for. If the game promises to be a goal-fest, fantasy team owners should be charged up for a Mbuemo masterclass.
PREDICTED XI
Brentford possible XI: Fernandez; Goode, Jansson, Pinnock; Roerslev, Baptiste, Norgaard, Janelt, Henry; Mbuemo, Wissa.
Watford possible XI: Bachmann; Femenia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Dennis, Cleverley, Kucka, Sissoko, Pedro; King.
