Table of Contents
Leicester City vs. Watford FC
This coming weekend, the island will not host the next Premier League matchday, but the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The only duel between two clubs from the highest English division will take place on this day at the King Power Stadium. There, Leicester City will receive Watford FC at 16:00.
In the league, things have not been going well at all for the visitors from Watford in recent weeks. But it is precisely in such situations that the cup is often a welcome opportunity to turn things around and initiate the hoped-for turnaround. Whether we think the relegation-threatened Hornets can do the same on Saturday and what other predictions we would make for this match is now revealed in our Leicester vs Watford betting tips.
Leicester -Watford info
– Date & Time: 08.01.2022, at 16:00.
– Venue: Leicester, King Power Stadium (up to 32,000 spectators).
– Competition: FA Cup, 3rd round
– TV coverage: Sky Sport
Leicester -Watford Tip
The FA Cup is the biggest cup competition in England and accordingly both teams will be going all out to progress to the next round on Saturday. After their recent performances in the league, the Foxes are favourites, but that doesn’t always mean anything in the cup. Watford recently lost six games in a row and want to use this competition to finally show a different face. We will find out on Saturday from 16:00 whether this will really work out.
Leicester Form & Balance Check
At Leicester City, they won’t really be happy with the way the season has gone so far. In the Europa League, the Premier League representatives were eliminated by a defeat on the last matchday in Naples (3:2) in third place and in the championship, the Foxes are also running behind their own expectations with tenth place and eight points behind sixth place. At least at the end of the year things were a bit better after only one win from six matches.
Foxes with feasible opponents in front of them
First up, Leicester beat Newcastle United 4-0 with a brace from Tielemans and goals from Daka and Maddison. The following away match at Manchester City (6:3) almost went down in the history books. After 25 minutes the Foxes were already 4-0 behind. Three quick goals between the 55th and 65th minute brought the underdogs back into the game. However, after a missed chance to equalise, City went back up 5:3, which finally broke Leicester’s neck.
In the following home match, Jamie Vardy & Co. actually achieved great things and beat Liverpool FC 1-0, who were almost playing with their best players. The golden goal was scored by ex-Leipzig player Ademola Lookman in the 59th minute. Curiously, it was only the third clean sheet in the 18th league game for Peter Schmeichel – against one of the best offensive lines in the world, of all things. From the Foxes’ point of view, it can go on like this.
Leicester Facts & Analysis
– 25 points after 18 games
– Last win 1-0 against Liverpool
– Lost at home only against Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal
– Won 4-2 at home against Watford in the league
Watford form & balance check
Watford FC played an extremely disappointing first half of the season and, especially towards the end of the year, saw no land at all. After the furious 4:1 home win over Manchester United, the Hornets lost six games in a row with a goal difference of 6:16. Most recently, there were two home defeats against West Ham United (1:4) and Tottenham Hotspur. In the EFL Cup, the journey was already over after the second round against Stoke City (1:3). Now the Hornets want to at least show a different face in the FA Cup, which is rich in tradition, in order to turn things around in the league. To achieve this goal, the Hornets have also been active in the transfer market.
Three new players for the Hornets
According to English media reports, the signings of left-back Hassane Kamara (OGC Nice) and Edo Kayembe (KAS Eupen) are almost finalised. In addition, negotiations with centre-back Domagoj Vida from Besiktas Istanbul are at an advanced stage. He would be available on a free transfer in the summer, but has already been released by his club for the winter.
In addition to the sporting setbacks, Watford FC recently had to deal with accusations from the Senegalese Football Association. The latter claims that the relegation-threatened Premier League club would do anything to prevent Ismaila Sarr’s participation in the Africa Cup. Watford, on the other hand, claim that the player suffered an injury on 20 November and has been out of action since then anyway. If the conflicts continue, FIFA could soon intervene.
Watford Facts & Analysis
– 13 points from 18 games
– Last lost 0:1 against Tottenham
– Form weakest team in the league
– Average 2 goals conceded per game
Predicted line-up – last updated on 6 January 2022
The hosts will have to do without Nampalys Mendy (groin injury), Wesley Fofana (fractured fibula), James Justin (cruciate ligament injury), RIcardo Pereira (thigh injury) and Jamie Vardy (thigh injury). Caglar Söyüncü and Johnny Evans are also likely to miss out. Castagne is likely to play again in place of Pereira. Due to Jamie Vardy’s injury, it could come down to a system with one striker again.
Watford are not expected to change much yet. Peter Etebo (knee), Kwadwo Baah (ankle) and Ismailla Sarr (ligament injury) are missing due to injury. New signing Kamara, however, could move straight into the starting eleven in place of Masina. Apart from that, we expect the Hornets to be unchanged.
🔎 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: EmiratesFACup
As the Hornets prepare to face the holders, we take a look at our FA Cup history and Saturday’s opponents 👇
– Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 6, 2022
Leicester -Watford direct comparison & stats
The direct comparison goes relatively clearly to the hosts with 19 to 13 wins. 9 times the points have been shared so far, but that is obviously not possible on Saturday. The balance of the last five encounters is also in favour of the Foxes, with three wins to one for Leicester and one draw. Most recently, Leicester’s 1-1 draw at Watford was followed by a 4-2 home win.
– Did you know that Leicester City score 31% of their goals between the 31-45 minute mark?
– Watford FC’s last away win at Leicester City was in 2013.
– Watch out, goals are likely to be scored today: Watford FC have conceded one goal in each of their last 17 games.
– When Leicester City lead 1-0 in home matches, they win 78% of the games.
– In front of their home crowd, Leicester City have a proud record of 8 games without defeat against Watford FC.
