Watford v Manchester United: Premier League betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Watford v Manchester United in the Premier League.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Watford +0.5 on Asian handicap
1pt 41-40 bet365

Team news

Watford
Adam Masina (thigh) and Roberto Pereyra (groin) could be back in contention but Jose Holebas, Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat remain sidelined.

Manchester United
Paul Pogba lacks match fitness after illness delayed his return to training and Eric Bailly, Angel Gomes and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are injured.

Match preview

Watford are in a desperate situation at the foot of the Premier League table but they can give their fans some Christmas cheer by avoiding defeat against Manchester United at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets did not get much of a new-manager bounce from Quique Sanchez Flores, who won one of ten games, but they have responded positively to Nigel Pearson and were a shade unlucky to lose 2-0 at Liverpool last Saturday.

Missed chances cost Watford at Anfield and Pearson concedes that his team will need to improve in front of goal.

However, Watford did not play like a side resigned to their fate and confidence in front of goal is something that may quickly return if they get their noses in front.

Watford have players who can score goals at the top level.

Troy Deeney has reached double figures in two of his four Premier League seasons and Gerard Deulofeu impressed last term, scoring ten goals in 30 appearances.

Midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure and winger Roberto Pereyra are others with an eye for goal and Watford's 52-goal tally last season - five more than seventh-placed Wolves - was achieved with largely the same group of players.

Pearson's task is to discover why a decent squad have struggled so much and get them to believe in their survival mission.

He has targeted a major improvement in home results, which is understandable because Watford have posted just three home league victories in 2019.

While Watford's home form may not inspire much confidence, neither does United's away record.

The Red Devils have registered only two wins from their last 12 Premier League road trips and will be hoping that the 2-1 success at Manchester City can signal the start of something better.

After defeating Tottenham and City in the space of just four days, United's season looked ready for lift off.

However, familiar frustrations returned when they could only muster a 1-1 draw at home to Everton last Sunday.

The result against Everton continues a trend of failing to deliver against the supposed lesser teams.

Of United's six victories this season, four have been against teams in the top five.

In matches against clubs outside of the top five they have had a tough time, winning two, drawing six and losing four.

A lack of creativity has been a key reason behind United's problems against struggling sides and the issue may persist this weekend because Paul Pogba, by far their most talented midfielder, remains short of match fitness.

A fully-fit and motivated Pogba could perhaps make the difference between reaching the top four and finishing just outside.

Without him, United struggle to control games and they rely heavily on the pace of Dan James, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford to do the damage on the counter-attack.

However, Watford are unlikely to afford them much space in behind and will pose a counter-attacking threat themselves with the pace of Deulofeu and Ismaila Sarr.

There is an awfully long road ahead for the Hornets if they are to stay in the division but they are better than they have shown this season and can give United a tough game.