Manchester City travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday as they look to start 2016 with a victory against Watford to boost their title hopes.
The Citizens were held to a frustrating draw against Leicester City in midweek, which in turn leaves them three points adrift of the Foxes and joint Premier League leaders Arsenal.
As a result, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways as soon as possible in order to continue to apply pressure on their title rivals.
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Manuel Pellegrini is unlikely to make any changes to his starting lineup, which means that City will be vulnerable at the back as both Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi continued to fail to convince against Leicester in the absence of Vincent Kompany.
The likes of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney will certainly fancy their chances at the weekend, but Watford must remain vigilant at the other end of the pitch as the visitors will have plenty of quality in the final third.
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne experienced a frustrating night at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, as they couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Leicester backline.
However, it is highly unlikely that the quartet will fail to find a way through for two consecutive games given the quality that they possess between them, and Pellegrini will hope to keep them all fit in the second half of the campaign.
In conclusion, City will perhaps go into this meeting unchanged as they go in search of a winning start to 2016 with Arsenal taking on Newcastle United aiming to protect their lead over their rivals.
