Watford vs Everton preview: Abdoulaye Doucoure in contention

Abdoulaye Doucoure is set to return for Watford when they welcome former manager Marco Silva back to Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Midfielder Doucoure has missed the last four games due to a knee problem, but should be available to face Silva's Everton.

The Portuguese managed the Hornets for the first half of the 2017/18 season before he was sacked in January 2018, with Watford claiming Everton made an illegal approach that unsettled Silva.

Asked what reception he expects Silva to get on his first return to Vicarage Road, current Hornets boss Javi Gracia said: "I don't know. I think there will be different opinions and all of them are respectable.

"I expect the supporters to back us as they usually do. It is the best thing for us, to feel the support we feel all the games, and I think this game, it will be not different."

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After a positive start to the season, Silva has struggled at Everton recently, with four defeats in the last five matches in all competitions.

Watford will be looking for their first Premier League win since January 12.

The Hornets are one place and one point above Everton in the table, although they do also have a game in hand.

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Team news

Gracia has said he thinks Doucoure will be ready for the fixture after the midfielder returned to training this week.

Kiko Femenia (hamstring) could also make a return to action. Roberto Pereyra (calf), Isaac Success (hamstring) and Sebastian Prodl (knee) remain sidelined.

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Yerry Mina is a doubt for Everton while fellow defenders Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines are out.

Opta stats

• After losing their first two home Premier League games against Everton, Watford are unbeaten in three, winning the last two in a row.
• Everton have lost just two of their 11 Premier League meetings with Watford (both at Vicarage Road), winning six of those clashes (D3).
• In the top-flight, Watford have only lost more home games against Liverpool and Manchester United (7 each) than they have vs Everton (5).
• Watford have won their last two home Premier League games against Everton - they've never won three in a row against an opponent at Vicarage Road in the competition.
• Watford have picked up just one win in their last seven Premier League games (D4 L2), winning 2-1 at Crystal Palace in January.
• Two of Watford's last three Premier League games have finished 0-0 - as many goalless draws as they'd had in their previous 57 games in the competition.
• After picking up 9/9 points from their opening three home league games this season, Watford have picked up just 8/27 in their subsequent nine (W2 D2 L5).
• Everton are looking to win consecutive away league games for the first time since September 2016.
• Five of Watford's 16 home league goals this season have been scored by Roberto Pereyra (31%), though the Argentine has only scored in one of his last six at Vicarage Road.
• This will be Marco Silva's first game at Vicarage Road as a visiting manager in the Premier League - he won just three of his 12 home games as Watford manager in the competition (D4 L5).

Merson's predictions

I fancy Watford here, I do not see Everton winning this game, I think there is trouble there at the moment. Everton conceded from a set play against Man City again on Wednesday night and Watford are a big team, so I see them being too strong here.

MERSE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)

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