Watford manager Quique Flores has done a terrific job in the first half of the season and his side have way exceeded expectations. They sit in ninth place, and are actually just two points behind fifth place. The main aim for Watford this season was to avoid relegation, and they surely will achieve that ambition easily as they are a massive twelve points above the relegation places going into the second half of the season.


Much of the credit for their impressive season so far has to go to their striking duo in captain Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo. Surely the main concern for Flores throughout January has to be keeping hold of their best players during the transfer window.


Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is sure to have his eyes firmly on regaining the Premier League title in what looks likely to be his last season in charge at The Etihad. His side have easily the strongest squad in the league in my opinion and I will be shocked if they don’t prove too strong for Arsenal over the course of the season. If they are to win the title however they must improve their away form. So far this season they have been very average away from home with three wins, three draws and three defeats.


Pellegrini will be without the services of left back Gael Clichy so Kolarov will start. He also looks set to keep the faith with Sergio Aguero ahead of Wilfried Bony despite Bony going public this week in complaining about being left on the bench. Manchester City are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Watford and have won the last three including a 2-0 win earlier this season where Watford failed to record a single shot on target. City will also take confidence from Watford’s last game where they lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham.
As mentioned, City need to start winning away from home to keep up the pressure on Arsenal, and indeed Leicester who are above them in the table. If they are to be serious title contenders then they need to be following Tottenham’s lead and winning away at Watford. I will be backing them to do just that.

HOME WIN AND BTTS


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