Watford vs West Ham United preview

Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Watford vs West Ham in the Premier League.

Team news

Record signing Ismaila Sarr could make his Watford debut on Saturday, but there are fitness doubts over Roberto Pereyra and Abdoulaye Doucoure.

But the big blow for the Hornets is captain Troy Deeney, who has been ruled out for several weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

West Ham have a fully fit squad to choose from, barring long-term absentee Winston Reid (knee).

It means Jack Wilshere, Carlos Sanchez and Andriy Yarmolenko are all in contention, as well as captain Mark Noble, who has missed the past two games with a calf injury. Sebastian Haller and Felipe Anderson are also ready for selection after picking up knocks.

How to watch

Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Opta stats

• Watford have won more Premier League matches versus West Ham than they have against any other side in the competition (5).
• Watford have lost their last five Premier League games - they haven't lost six in a row since losing their final six games of the 2016-17 campaign.
• Watford's last two Premier League home games has seen them lose 1-4 (vs West Ham) and 0-3 (vs Brighton). Only three sides have lost three consecutive home games in the competition by a margin of 3+ goals - Bradford in 2000-01, Derby in 2007-08 and Swansea in 2016-17.
• West Ham are winless in their last nine Premier League games in August, with eight defeats followed by last week's draw with Brighton. Indeed, in Premier League history only Southampton (40) have lost more games in the month than the Hammers (38).
• Since beating Everton 1-0 in February, Watford have conceded in each of their last 14 Premier League games, shipping 29 goals in total. They last had a longer run without a clean sheet in league competition between September 1999-March 2000 (20 games).
• Watford's Gerard Deulofeu scored home and away against West Ham in the Premier League last season, one of just four players to do so (also Callum Wilson, Chris Wood and Sadio Mane).

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

West Ham started slow last season and they have been waiting for a few players to come back. I thought they would have let Javier Hernandez go but they have kept him and I don't see this being a high-scoring team.

Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini and Jack Wilshere have to do more. They need to get a few results to get going.

Watford have been the big disappointment of the season so far. They were a good side last season but we haven't seen anything from Gerard Deulofeu yet. It's time for them to start.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (8/1 with Sky Bet)

Soccer Saturday Super 6 is Back

FREE TO PLAY: £2m jackpot if 2m Players Enter