Burnley vs Watford preview, team news, prediction, kick-off, channel

Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Burnley vs Watford in the Premier League on Thursday (kick-off 6pm).

• £18 Premier League and Football channel offer
• Premier League restart: The live games on Sky Sports
• NOW TV Sky Sports Month Pass for £25 a month

Live Premier League

Team news

Burnley remain without Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson for Thursday's visit of Watford but Phil Bardsley is available after agreeing fresh terms with the club.

Bardsley sat out Monday's 5-0 defeat at Manchester City along with Joe Hart, Jeff Hendrick, Aaron Lennon and Adam Legzdins due to uncertainty over their contracts but while Bardsley is staying on, Sean Dyche indicated the other four had played their final games for the club.

Dyche could only name seven substitutes - including two goalkeepers - on a youthful bench at the Etihad Stadium, but hopes to have a full complement of nine available on Thursday with Bardsley and Mace Goodridge joining the group.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Watford have no fresh injury concerns ahead of their trip north.

The Hornets hit a stoppage-time equaliser against Leicester on Saturday as they continue their fight against the drop.

Daryl Janmaat and Gerard Deulofeu (both knee) and Isaac Success (ankle) remain absent.

How to follow

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Follow the match on Sky Sports Premier League with crowd noise and Sky Sports Action without. The game is also available on Sky Pick. Also keep up-to-date in our dedicated live blog with in-game clips, as well as highlights published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after full time.

Opta stats

• Burnley have won four of their seven Premier League matches against Watford (D1 L2), winning 3-0 earlier this season at Vicarage Road.
• Watford are looking to win consecutive away league visits to Burnley for the first time since April 2004, when they did so in the second tier.
• Burnley have played 12 midweek (Tuesday-Thursday) Premier League home games, with the Clarets netting exactly once each time. They were unbeaten in their first seven such games (W4 D3), but have since lost the last five in a row.
• Watford have won only one of their 20 midweek (Tuesday-Thursday) Premier League away games (D3 L16), with that victory coming at Arsenal in January 2017.
• Watford have won just one of their last eight Premier League games (D3 L4), beating Liverpool 3-0 in February. The Hornets' six points earned in these eight matches is as many as they'd won in their first two Premier League games of 2020 (W2).
• Burnley have won one of their last 10 league games played on a Thursday (D3 L6), beating Wolves 2-1 on Boxing Day in 2002. In the top-flight, their last win on a Thursday was against Manchester United on Boxing Day in 1963, winning 6-1 at Turf Moor.
• Having gone 19 Premier League games without a draw at Turf Moor (W9 L10), two of Burnley's last three home league games have ended level (W1).
• Excluding penalties, no side have scored fewer goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League this season than Watford (3), with Craig Dawson's late leveller against Leicester last time out the Hornets' first league goal from a corner this season.
• Watford manager Nigel Pearson has won each of his last three away league matches against Burnley, winning with Leicester City in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.
• Burnley striker Chris Wood has scored seven Premier League goals at Turf Moor this season, four more than any other Clarets player. Wood scored 14 goals in 53 league appearances for current Watford manager Nigel Pearson between 2013 and 2014 at Leicester City.

Charlie's prediction

I did not realise the contract situation Burnley left themselves in. We knew City would beat them, but how bad is it? The youngsters were on the bench. Has Sean Dyche done that in a certain way? Injuries are also a concern, especially for their two most prominent strikers. They are not under pressure in 11th, but it will annoy Sean Dyche in the way they got beat.

Have Burnley got enough? What is in it for them? What is their drive to get there? There are some good guys in the dressing room who have not signed contracts, which may disrupt them.

Watford may get a result here, they earned a point against Leicester - most of the results went their way, so they will fancy their chances. I think Watford will nick this. They will open the relegation battle wide open again.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (9/1 with Sky Bet)

Watch the Premier League live on Sky Sports

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• 64 live games on Sky Sports
• 25 games to be made freely available
• New Sky Sports digital innovations to enhance fan experience
• Watch 39 Premier League & 45 EFL games exclusively live

Sky Sports are broadcasting 64 live Premier League games for the 2019/20 season resumption. In addition to the 39 matches already scheduled to be broadcast exclusively live on Sky Sports before the coronavirus interruption, 25 more matches are being broadcast on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel, allowing the whole nation to be part of the return of live sport.

To celebrate the return of the Premier League, Sky Sports have also launched a host of innovative new features and updates to give fans an even more immersive experience and share the moments live with family and friends on virtual platforms.

Premier League Super 6!

Do not miss your chance to land the £250,000 jackpot on Tuesday. Play for free, entries by 8:15pm.