Watford and Newcastle will push to climb up the Premier League table on Saturday when the two sides face off.

Neither have had things their own way thus far. Watford have lost three of their five games already this year and crashed out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, but as far as Premier League form goes, they did thump Norwich 3-1 in their last outing.

As for Newcastle, they are still on the hunt for their first win of the year. They came up short last time out in the 1-1 draw with Leeds but showed more attacking flair than they have in months and fans finally had something to get them off their seats.

Here’s everything you need to know about this one.

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When is it being played? Saturday 25 September, 15:00 (BST)
Where is the match being played? Vicarage Road
TV channel? Final Score (BBC – UK), Soccer Saturday (Sky Sports– UK), Peacock Premium (US)
Highlights? Sky Sports YouTube Channel (UK – 5.15pm), Match of the Day (BBC – UK)
Referee? Jarred Gillett
VAR? Craig Pawson

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Xisco is still searching for the answer to his midfield conundrum. New arrivals Ozan Tufan and Imran Louza both struggled against Stoke and will head back to the bench, where Peter Etebo can return after being ineligible against his parent side.

Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann is battling a knee injury, but Kiko Femenia and Joao Pedro have both been training ahead of this one.

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Joe Willock was pictured in a protective boot after injuring his toe in training, so he’ll miss this one and so will Jamaal Lascelles, with the centre-back nursing a thigh injury.

Steve Bruce will also be without Martin Dubravka, Callum Wilson, Freddie Woodman, Paul Dummett and Jonjo Shelvey through various injuries.

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Watford: Foster; Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Kabasele, Rose; Sissoko, Kucka; Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis; King

Newcastle: Darlow; Manquillo, Clark, Fernandez, Schar, Ritchie; Almiron, Hayden, Longstaff, Joelinton; Saint-Maximin

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These two teams have eight wins apiece in their meetings with one another, but recently, it’s Watford who have had the upper hand.

Back in the 2019/20 season, Watford secured a 1-1 draw in the early weeks before snatching a 2-1 win in July 2020 which many thought might have given them enough of a boost to avoid relegation, but it wasn’t to be.

Newcastle did emerge victorious when these two sides met in November 2018, but that was the Magpies‘ only win in the last ten attempts.

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The attacking oomph showed by Newcastle against Leeds was such a pleasant shock to the system. They were unlucky not to win there but will fancy their chances of doing so against weaker opposition in the form of Watford.

Consistency has been a massive problem for Bruce’s side, who love letting fans down just as they’re getting their hopes up, but there is a feeling that they’re not too far from figuring it out and actually playing some decent football.

Watford will make life very tricky for Newcastle, but if the Magpies can keep up their momentum, they should snatch this one.

Prediction: Watford 1-2 Newcastle

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