Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur. Premier League.
Vicarage RoadAttendance20,278.
Saturday 2 December 2017 14:10, UK
Harry Winks is available for Tottenham's trip to Watford in the Premier League on Saturday after recovering from illness.
The England international's return will be a welcome boost to a Spurs side who have really struggled of late, with their title chances slipping away after losing three of their last five league games, and are winless in three.
In fact, Spurs have now lost as many Premier League games this season as they did in the entirety of last season (4).
While they have a poor record against Tottenham in the Premier League, Watford will be confident of inflicting more damage on Mauricio Pochettino's men, despite winning just twice at home this season.
Marco Silva's men are comfortable in eighth, four points clear of Leicester in ninth, and have been outscored by only four teams in the entire division.
Erik Lamela is in contention again after making his first appearance in more than a year at the King Power Stadium.
Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier could both return on the flanks but Toby Alderweireld (hamstring) and Victor Wanyama (knee) remain sidelined.
Watford, meanwhile, will be without Will Hughes after the midfielder limped off with a hamstring injury in their midweek defeat to Manchester United.
Miguel Britos will also be missing after suffering a knock in the win over Newcastle, while Younes Kaboul (hamstring), Craig Cathcart, Nathaniel Chalobah and Isaac Success (all knee) remain sidelined.
Watford have failed to win all of their previous eight Premier League encounters with Tottenham (W0 D2 L6); the most games they've played against any opponent without winning in the competition.
Watford have lost each of their last two league games against Tottenham by three goals or more; the Hornets have never lost three successive games versus an opponent by such a margin in their league history.
Tottenham have lost three consecutive away league games for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino. They last lost four in a row on the road in January 2009 under Harry Redknapp.
Watford's two home wins this season have come from both games against London opposition (Arsenal and West Ham United).
Three different Tottenham players scored braces against Watford last season, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli doing so at Vicarage Road, and Son Heung-min bagging one at White Hart Lane.
Watford disappointed me in midweek. They play the big boys and they get whipped up - I think Tottenham will get the job done but they look like they've lost a bit of focus.
I don't think Mauricio Pochettino has helped. In the north London derby, they were still in the game against Arsenal but he takes off Dele Alli and Harry Kane ahead of the Champions League match. That sends out a message that they can't win the league...but they need to make top four. A bit of poor play has crept into Tottenham, especially defensively, which I haven't seen before.
They're missing Toby Alderweireld, who is the best centre-back in the world.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Chelsea are Sky Bet's 2/9 favourites for the victory with Newcastle up against odds of 12/1, while the draw is priced at 5/1. Alvaro Morata heads the first goalscorer betting at 2/1, a sixth of the price of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle at 12/1 apiece. The Blues are Sky Bet's 28/1 third favourites to win the Premier League while Rafael Benitez's men are 5/1 to face the drop.
