Manchester City vs Watford. Premier League.
Etihad StadiumAttendance53,218.
Saturday 29 August 2015 15:22, UK
Manchester City will be looking to maintain the perfect start to their Premier League campaign by securing victory over Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have three wins from as many games so far, scoring eight and conceding none, and already sit two points clear at the top of the table - and perhaps more crucially, five points ahead of Chelsea.
Watford, meanwhile, are also unbeaten heading to the league leaders, but are still without a win since their return to the top flight. Boss Quique Flores has overseen back-to-back goalless draws at home in their last two games against Southampton and West Brom, after the 2-2 draw at Everton on opening day.
Team news
Manchester City are without striker Wilfried Bony for the visit of Watford. Bony suffered a cut leg in training and has been pictured wearing a protective boot but he is expected to be fit after the upcoming international break. Midfielder Fernando (groin) should also be back for the next game against Crystal Palace on September 12.
Full-backs Pablo Zabaleta (groin) and Gael Clichy (ankle) remain on the sidelines, New signing Nicolas Otamendi, who did not play at Everton last week as he awaited his work permit, is still not available.
Watford will be in the familiar position of having Miguel Britos suspended on Saturday. The Uruguayan defender had to wait until Tuesday's Capital One Cup tie against Preston for his debut as he served a suspension left over from his Napoli days - and was promptly sent off to earn a fresh three-match ban.
Joel Eckstrand (knee) is the only other absentee from coach Quique Flores' squad.
Stats
Watford have won just three of their 39 Premier League away matches (W3 D7 L29).
Watford have the edge over Manchester City in league meetings winning five to City's four of the 12 meetings.
Watford are only the ninth newly-promoted side to remain unbeaten in their opening three games of a Premier League season.
Only five of the previous eight have gone unbeaten after four games.
Only three teams have drawn their first four games of a Premier League season (Sunderland & Stoke in 2012-13 and C.Palace in 1992-93).
Merson's prediction
Watford are finding it hard to score. I wondered whether they'd go free-flowing in the Premier League like they were last year in the Championship, or whether they'd go defensively. They went defensively, and don't look like scoring goals. They won't be able to stop Man City. The only way to stop City is to go out and have a go, and I don't think they will.
Man City will have enough to open them up a few times and I think they'll beat them 4-0. Their performance against Everton was very good, it's a hard place to go and it was a very good result.
PAUL PREDICTS: 4-0 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)
Betting
Sky Bet make Watford 12/1 to spring a major upset and end odds-on shots Manchester City 100 per cent record on Saturday. City, the strong favourites to win the title, have been rampant so far this term winning all three matches to nil and are 11/10 to extend that sequence.
