Watford vs Manchester United set to be decided by Will Hughes vs Ashley Young… and Richarlison vs Anthony Martial
TUESDAY sees the battle of master vs apprentice as Marco Silva and Watford host Manchester United and Jose Mourinho in the battle of the Portuguese coaches.
Tactically astute, successful and easy on the eye, Mourinho has ruled the Premier League roost for a number of years, winning three titles.
But Silva, who was appointed Hull boss at January – just failing to keep the Tigers in the top flight – before moving to Watford in May, is already being touted as a mini Mou.
A win over the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss will do little to cool those links.
And with his Watford side riding high in eighth having already beaten Arsenal and drawn with Liverpool, nothing is out of the question.
The game kicks off at 8pm and will be shown live on BT Sport. Our friends at Football Whispers have the ultimate preview of the game.
Key battle: Will Hughes v Ashley Young
Having had to wait until November for his first Premier League start, former England Under-21 star Hughes has made his point by scoring in each of Watford’s last two games.
Signed for £8m from Derby in the summer, the technically-gifted midfielder had long been linked with a move to the top-flight and was at one point a Liverpool target before the Hornets swooped.
Forced to wait patiently for his chance, Hughes has shone on the right of Watford’s two No10s behind Andre Gray and should be stationed there again for United’s visit.
That will ensure a tough night’s work for former Watford favourite Young.
The England international joined Aston Villa in January 2007 in a then club-record sale of £9.75m.
The winger had looked to be out of favour under Mourinho last term but has forced his way back into the side at left-back and has even earned an England recall.
At 32 he is not the tricky, fleet-of-foot winger who left Vicarage Road more than a decade ago.
But he is averaging 1.6 tackles per game and 1.9 interceptions, earning Mourinho’s trust.
Potential match winners: Richarlison and Anthony Martial
A Chelsea transfer target before joining Watford from Fluminense, Brazilian wonderkid Richarlison was on the verge of signing for Ajax when Marco Silva called.
With an £11.5m deal quickly struck, the Dutch giants must rue missing out on the Brazil Under-20 cap who has been a revelation down Watford’s left, chipping in with five goals.
Richarlison has taken to the Premier League with ease and is already subject of Tottenham transfer rumours after playing a key role in the Hornets’ flying start.
For United, Frenchman Martial has enjoyed a fine first third of the season, forcing his way into Mourinho’s thinking to make four of his five league starts since mid-October.
The former Monaco prodigy had been used almost exclusively as a substitute in the opening weeks but kept making an impact off the bench to change his boss’ mind.
With seven goals and four assists in all competitions, the 21-year-old looks set to start ahead of Marcus Rashford down the left-hand side.
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Managers’ tactics
In-demand Hornets head coach Silva – who is wanted by Everton to succeed Ronald Koeman – has transformed Watford in a very short period of time, making them an entertaining watch full of energy and pressing.
That represents a big improvement on last season when they lacked pace or a coherent plan under the unpopular Walter Mazzarri.
Mourinho, meanwhile, should set United up in a 4-2-3-1 system with the influential Paul Pogba partnering Nemanja Matic at the base of midfield.
The Red Devils side of the opening few weeks of the season has given way to a more pragmatic style based on retaining possession and being defensively resolute.
Likely line-ups
Watford coach Silva could be tempted to name an unchanged starting XI after a comfortable win at Newcastle on Saturday.
Captain Troy Deeney is back but after club-record signing Andre Gray netted in that win on Tyneside, he can expect to have to settle for a place on the bench.
Watford are without Nathaniel Chalobah (knee), Younes Kaboul (hamstring) and Isaac Success (hamstring).
Mourinho, however, could shuffle his pack. The United boss is reluctant to start right-back Antonio Valencia twice in a week meaning Matteo Darmian could come in.
Further forward, it will be a choice between Martial and Rashford with Jesse Lingard the likely beneficiary.
Phil Jones (thigh), Eric Bailly (groin) and Michael Carrick, who is recovering from a heart condition, miss out.
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Key stats
With 21 points from their first 13 Premier League fixtures, this is Watford’s best start to a top-flight season.
That tally equals the total they posted at the same stage of the 1982/83 season when Graham Taylor’s side finished runners-up.
United will be a tough nut to crack, though. Mourinho’s men have conceded just six goals in the league this season. The last time they managed that was the 2007/08 campaign.
The Red Devils have also claimed 26 clean sheets in 51 Premier League matches under the Portuguese – no-one else has recorded more.