TipResumen

WATFORD

In recent years the Watford model of ownership may not be one that fans outside of the club particularly enjoy seeing, but it has proven to be very effective for the club in general. They may not have finished above 13th in the Premier League table since returning to the Premier League, but Watford have not really flirted with relegation as the owners seemed to have made the right footballing decisions to sack managers when things have even begun to take a turn for the worse. Javi Gracia came in and steadied a sinking Watford last season after Marco Silva was perhaps distracted and the manager has helped The Hornets win back to back games to open the Premier League season. This is the first time Watford have made such a start to the new season since being re-promoted to the top flight and the fans will believe they can surpass their previous best finishes of 13th in the last three seasons. Watford only won 1 of their last 9 games in the Premier League to end last season, but wins over Brighton and Burnley have come in dominant fashion to open the 2018/19 campaign. The home form has been very important for Watford who have lost 1 of their last 10 at Vicarage Road in all competitions while they have won 5 of their last 8 Premier League games here including the last 2 in a row. There are no new injury concerns for Watford, but they are still waiting for the likes of Nathaniel Chalobah, Gerard Deulofeu and Stefano Okaka to return to full fitness.



CRYSTAL PALACE

Roy Hodgson was not very happy with the refereeing performance in Crystal Palace's 0-2 home defeat to Liverpool on Monday night and he felt his side were denied a positive result. It goes to show how much Crystal Palace have improved under the guidance of the former England manager that they would have been looking for much more against Liverpool and The Eagles will be looking to bounce back immediately. A win at Fulham to open the season at least means Crystal Palace won't go through the same heartache they suffered at the beginning of the 2017/18 season. Last season Crystal Palace ended up with 4 wins from their 19 away League games and 3 of those wins came at teams who finished below The Eagles in the table. Crystal Palace had been unbeaten in 7 games and they had won 6 of those since losing a home game to Liverpool before losing to the same side at the same venue on Monday night. The Eagles are unbeaten in 5 away Premier League games and they have won 3 of those which earns plenty of respect for them in this live game. Jonathan Williams and Connor Wickham are both expected to miss out this weekend, while promising Aaron Wan-Bissaka is suspended having been sent off on Monday evening.



HEAD TO HEAD

Crystal Palace took four points from Watford in the Premier League last season, but the game at Vicarage Road ended goalless. Watford have not won any of their last 7 home games against Crystal Palace although 3 of the last 4 have ended in draws.



PREDICTION

This does look an intriguing live Premier League game on Sunday afternoon with two teams who have made positive starts to the new season. Watford have really impressed in beating Brighton and Burnley and they look like a side that is going to have plenty to avoid relegation. Creating chances and limiting the threat posed by opponents means Watford have been well deserved of the six points they have earned and they will come into this one with confidence. They may not have the greatest home record against Crystal Palace in recent years, but the first couple of games suggest they can break that run. 3 of the last 4 games at Vicarage Road between these clubs have ended in draws, but Watford might be playing at the top of their level right now which makes them hard to oppose. I have plenty of respect for Roy Hodgson and his Crystal Palace team too having already won at Fulham this season and having won 3 of their last 5 away Premier League games. The counter attacking nature of this team certainly makes them look one that can be very effective on their travels and Watford will have to respect that. However I think Crystal Palace were a touch fortunate to win at Fulham with the home team missing a number of chances and The Eagles taking the opportunities that came their way. They have a player who can take his limited chances in Wilfried Zaha and that makes Crystal Palace dangerous, but Watford look to be in the better form to open the season and with home advantage I give them the edge. The 7 game home run without a win over Crystal Palace is a concern, but I will back Watford on the Asian Handicap which is essentially a 'Draw No Bet' market. They have created much more than Crystal Palace and they have looked the more secure in defensive positions in the early part of the Premier League season and I will look for them to continue their run and take a huge step towards the 40 point mark they aim for every season and all before we complete the first month of the 2018/19 campaign.