MANCHESTER UNITED are back in Premier League action as they welcome strugglers Watford to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils will be breathing a huge sigh of relief having scraped a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League round of 16 first leg on Wednesday.
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But they’ll be hoping for an easier ride when they host the 19th placed Hornets who come into this fixture off the back of a 4-1 pummelling courtesy of Crystal Palace.
Manchester United are unbeaten in the league since the embarrassing home defeat to Wolves at the start of the year.
But the Hornets currently hold the bragging rights because Watford got the better of the 13x Premier League winners earlier on this season.
What time does Man Utd vs Watford kick off?
- Manchester United vs Watford takes place on Saturday, February 26 – TODAY.
- The match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm UK time.
- It is happening at Old Trafford in Manchester.
- The sides last met in a reverse fixture at Vicarage Road where Watford hammered the Red Devils 4-1.
What TV Channel is Man Utd vs Watford on and can I live stream it?
- Unfortunately, Manchester United vs Watford will not be broadcasted live on UK television.
- This is because kick-off falls between the time of the TV blackout law which runs from 2:45pm to 5:15pm.
- However, the game can be streamed via the NBC Sports website and the app.
Team news
Scott McTominay missed the midweek trip to Spain due to an illness and the Scotland international continues with that same issue so he will be unavailable for selection.
Edinson Cavani’s wait for Premier League action will continue as the Uruguyan is still struggling with a groin injury that has kept him out for the last four matches.
Roy Hodgson has revealed that he has doubts over whether Samuel Kalu can feature for the Hornets having suffered a slight ankle knock.
Peter Etobo and Kwadwo Baah both featured in an U23 game which has helped them to see progress in their recovery period, but this trip has come too soon. It’s the same thing for Nicolas Nkoulou
However, the Hertfordshire outfit have been given a major boost because Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka are in contention to start having both missed out on the Crystal Palace defeat.
In addition to that, Watford forward Josh King seems to have got over the injury he sustained in training last week.
Latest odds
Manchester United to win 3/10
Draw 4/1
Watford to win 8/1
*Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at the time of publication
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Putting their priorities in order
Manchester United are considered favourites to land a Champions League (CL) spot below Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, but the Red Devils have other priorities to take into account.
Ralf Rangnick’s side earned a vital draw against Atletico Madrid in club football’s biggest competition which has blown their chances of progression in the CL wide open.
However, they still have to keep an eye on the teams chasing them for the top four because that is the more likely route for United to be in the CL next season and it is a race which could go down to the wire.
Fortunately for the German interim manager, he has good squad depth to rotate the side, keeping them all fresh accordingly.
But in reality, Rangnick may have to decide which is more achievable with this current squad and what pathway is the most likely to get Manchester United back into the CL for the 2022/23 campaign.
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How the table is looking
This is where both teams’ recent results have got them so far.
Manchester United have the opportunity to open up a gap between themselves and their top four rivals by getting three points this afternoon.
However, the Red Devils would have played more games than all the other teams chasing a Champions League spot.
As for their visitors, a point for Watford would be fantastic in normal circumstances.
But desperate times call for desperate measures, so the Hornets need all three just to stay within touching distance of Newcastle who occupy that last survival position.
Credit: premierleague.com -
Watford’s form coming into this
The Hornets are on a treacherous run at the moment having only won once since the turn of the calendar year.
In Watford’s last ten fixtures, the relegation battlers have lost seven games which includes the recent 4-1 pummelling from Crystal Palace in front of their home supporters.
Ironically, before the 1-0 win over Aston Villa last weekend, Watford hadn’t picked up three points since their triumph over today’s opponents Manchester United.
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Manchester United’s most recent results
For all the controversy within the Manchester United camp, the Red Devils are currently putting together a good run of form.
Disregarding the embarrassing penalty shoot-out defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup, Ralf Rangnick’s men haven’t lost a game since the 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves on January 3rd.
This includes picking up three crucial points against top four contenders West Ham, smashing Leeds 4-2 at Elland Road and holding Diego Simeone’s side to a 1-1 draw in Madrid on Wednesday.
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Earlier on in the season
If today is anything similar to the reverse fixture in November, then we are in for a treat because we were spoiled to: Five goals, two stoppage time goals and a red card. It was very entertaining.
However the surprising element is that it was Watford who netted four strikes that day which sent shock waves round the whole Premier League, and it ultimately led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s contract termination.
Goals from Josh King and Ismaila Sarr put the Hornets 2-0 up going into the interval but when Donny van de Beek pulled one back for the visitors, Vicarage road became tense.
But on the 69th minute, Harry Maguire recklessly lunged in on ex-United star Tom Cleverley, which resulted in him getting sent off having already picked up a yellow card earlier on in the match.
This gave Watford the incentive to not only hold out for the win, but courtesy of Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Bonaventure, the Hornets added two more in stoppage time making it 4-1 by the final whistle.
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Here are Betfair’s current odds
Man Utd to win 4/11
Draw 4/1
Watford to win 15/2
*Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at the time of publication.
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Welcome to Manchester United vs Watford
Good afternoon to the entire SunSport family on this sunny day in London. I hope you are all well and continuing to wash those hands.
Unfortunately, the game being covered today is not being televised but this is what we are here for. Not all superheroes wear capes.
Our live blog sees 13x Premier League winners Manchester United welcoming relegation fighters Watford in a mouth-watering clash at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are coming into this game off the back of a positive result where they held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in their Champions League round of 16 first leg.
And they couldn’t have picked a better time to come up against the Hornets who recently got a 4-1 whooping from Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road.
Stay tuned people because coming up we will be providing the latest gossip, injury updates and announcing the starting line-ups all before kick-off which is scheduled for 15:00 UK time.