Watford take on managerless Crystal Palace in a televised Premier League match at lunchtime on Boxing Day. Read the match predictions to find out why an away win is the betting tip at Vicarage Road. Crystal Palace lost 0-1 at home to league leaders Chelsea in their last match while Watford went down 1-0 away to relegation threatened Sunderland.
Watford vs Crystal Palace Preview
Watford will welcome back Younes Kaboul to the back four, with Sebastian Prodl a serious doubt. Stefano Okaka also has match fitness to prove, though is unlikely to be involved. Brice Dja Djédjé, Adrian Mariappa and Roberto Pereyra are all out injured for the hosts.
Crystal Palace have parted company with Alan Pardew and have major injury problems with James Tomkins, Bakary Sako, Pape Souare, Connor Wickham, Jonathan Benteke and Steve Mandanda all on the sidelines. Loic Remy is short of match fitness and it’s unlikely that Mathieu Flamini will be involved. Wilfried Zaha continues to impress on the left flank and could be key to a Palace success here.
Team Predictions Watford vs Crystal Palace
Watford 4-4-2 formation: Gomes; Holebas, Britos, Kaboul, Janmaat; Zuniga, Capoue, Behrami, Amrabat; Ighalo, Deeney
Crystal Palace 4-2-3-1 formation: Hennessey; Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly; McArthur, Ledley; Zaha, Cabaye, Puncheon; Benteke
Watford vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips
- Watford have won 4 drawn 1 and lost 5 of their last 10 matches
- Crystal Palace have won 1 drawn 1 and lost 8 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Watford have scored an average of 0.9 goals and conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Crystal Palace have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 2.4 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Watford’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Crystal Palace’s previous 10 matches
Watford vs Crystal Palace Prediction
Back to back defeats away to Manchester City and Sunderland mean it’s been two games since Watford have hit the back of the net. However, they fired three in their last home game, a 3-2 victory over Everton and will be confident of breaching Palace’s porous back line.
One thing’s for sure with Crystal Palace, they are an entertaining side to watch from a neutral perspective. Their last away game was a pulsating 3-3 draw at Hull City and back-to-back home defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea leave the Eagles just 1 point above the drop zone. Their position in the league ultimately costing Alan Pardew his job.
Neither side is in good form but Crystal Palace have been firing on the road with at least two goals scored in their last three Premier League matches. There have been over 2.5 goals in six of their last seven away games, a stat that also applies to eight of Watford’s last ten home matches. This will be a close game but Palace need it more and are tipped to get what could be a crucial win.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
CRYSTAL PALACE at 11/5 with BetVictor
Over/Under Prediction
OVER 2.5 goals at 11/10 with Betfair
Correct Score Prediction
CRYSTAL PALACE 2-1 at 11/1 with bet65
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Premier League preview – Watford vs Crystal Palace prediction
With Valon Behrami still suspended and Joel Ekstrand and Lloyd Doyley both injured, Watford may go with the same starting XI which played at Newcastle last weekend. In fact, considering Watford have won their previous two games, there is no reason for Quique Flores to make any changes.
Alan Pardew on the other hand, has a number of injury concerns ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road. In defence, Scott Dann and Damien Delaney are struggling for fitness and the latter has the better chance of making it. Connor Wickham is also a doubt and Joel Ward will definitely miss out.
Possible Line-ups
Watford: 4-4-2 formation: Gomes; Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Anya; Abdi, Capoue, Watson, Jurado; Ighalo, Deeney
Crystal Palace: 4-2-3-1 formation: McCarthy; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Souare; Cabaye, McCarthur; Zaha, Puncheon, Sako; Bolasie
Statistics
- Watford have won 3, drawn 3 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Crystal Palace have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Watford have scored an average of 0.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Crystal Palace have scored an average of 1.4 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Watford’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Crystal Palace’s previous 10 matches
- Watford are yet to concede a goal at home in the Premier League this season
Prediction
Despite winning in the League during mid-week, Crystal Palace need to get back to winning ways in the Premier League, having lost their last 2 games. However, the fixture list has not been kind to Pardew’s men, handing them games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs. So in the main, they have done well and will believe they have what it takes to defeat Watford.
The home team have recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League and will be pleased to find themselves in 10th place. Although the team have only managed 5 goals in 6 games, they have the joint third best defensive record in the league and will hope that continues this weekend.
After a tough run of fixtures, Crystal Palace will have marked this one down as an opportunity to get back to winning ways. However, Watford will also see this match as being another winnable game and the teams may cancel each other out in a low scoring draw.
Tips
Under 2.5 goals at 7/10 – Click here to bet with Bet365
Draw at 23/10 – Click here to bet with Bet365
1-1 full-time with Ighalo to score at 18/1 – Click here to bet with Bet365
What are your predictions?
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