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Defending EPL champions Manchester City host Watford at the Etihad Stadium on September 21, 2019.
Manchester City
Manchester City is England’s dominant football team today, winning the the English Premier League in three out of the last six seasons, including back to back championships in 2018 and 2019. These titles have come under the guardianship of Pep Guardiola who is considered by most as the best football manager in the world today. Guardiola replaced Manuel Pellegrini in 2016 and he has turned Manchester City into the dominant team that it is today.
Last season, Manchester City didn’t just win the English Premier League title but the club also took the EFL Cup and the FA Cup to accomplish an unprecedented domestic treble. Manchester City is among the top soccer betting favorites to win the Premier League title again this season.
Manchester City leads the Premier League in Goal Difference at +11 goals so far this season. They have scored a total of 14 goals which makes them the top goal-scoring team in the league. 13 of those goals were assisted ( ranked 1st overall) and on defense, they have conceded a Premier League 2nd-best three goals only in four matches played this season.
Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are right on target early in the season. Aguero has found the back of the net already six times during the current campaign while Sterling has five goals in four appearances. Kevin de Bruyne has a team-leading five assists plus one goal scored while goalkeeper Ederson has 10 saves and only three goals allowed in four matches.
Watford
Watford Football Club was founded in 1881 and has played in the top four tiers of the English Football system for such a long time but the club has yet to bag a major football trophy in any level. Perhaps their biggest achievement to date was making it all the way to the FA Cup Final this year.
Javi Garcia arrived in January 2018 and led the club an 11th place finish, their best finish ever in the Premier League and got a contract extension. Watford recorded the most points earned in team history during the previous season and Garcia led Watford to their second FA Cup Final appearance in club history after his team defeated the Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Midfielders Andre Gray and Will Hughes have scored Watford’s two goals this season with Hughes also providing the team’s lone assist this season. Goalkeeper Ben Foster has conceded eight goals with 13 saves in a total of four appearances this season.
Watford ranks 20th in the EPL with its Goal Difference of -6 goals this season. The team has scored only two goals so far this term ( ranked 20th overall) and has already given up a total of eight goals this year ( ranked 17th overall ). Watford also ranks 18th in the league with only one assist so far this season.
Who Wins?
Manchester City is unbeaten so far in four matches and are ranked 2nd in the EPL with their 3-1-0 SU record. After being held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham in round 2, Manchester City has won back to back matches against Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion, giving up just one goal in those two matches.
Watford ranks 20th in the current EPL standings. They are 0-1-3 SU in four matches played so far. Watford lost to Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton and West Ham United in their first three assignments, scoring only one goal in three matches. In their last outing, Watford salvaged a draw against Newcastle to end their three-match losing streak.
Head to head, Manchester City has won 13 out of their 15 head to head matches against Watford. Watford is winless while these teams drew twice. Manchester City has won the last eight meetings between these two teams including a 6-0 victory last May 18, 2019.
I don’t think this is a hard pick to make. Talent and experience-wise, Manchester City is at another level against Watford. I think the offensive onslaught is going to be too much for Watford and I see Manchester City emerging with a dominant win. Prediction: Manchester City
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