90min

Watford predicted lineup vs Leeds - Premier League

By Grey Whitebloom

Only two teams have scored fewer goals than Watford since Roy Hodgson was appointed in February (six)
Only two teams have scored fewer goals than Watford since Roy Hodgson was appointed in February (six) / James Baylis - AMA/GettyImages
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Relegation-scrapping Watford host fellow strugglers Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It's been a month since Vicarage Road last played host to a Premier League match - one in which Watford lost 3-2 against Arsenal. The Hornets haven't triumphed in a home game since signing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's P45 in November with a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United.

Here's the XI Roy Hodgson, the individual that has since replaced the architect of that victory Claudio Ranieri, may deploy to earn a maiden win on home soil as Watford boss.

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Ben Foster (GK) - The only red card of Foster's senior club career came in a 2-1 defeat against Leeds in 2006.

Kiko Femenia (RB) - Over the past two seasons, Femenia has created an unrivalled nine league goals for his Watford teammates.

Christian Kabasele (CB) - In a campaign blighted by injury, Kabasele could be given a third consecutive league start for the first time since December 2020.

Samir (CB) - The most expensive arrival of the six players Watford spent money on in January has played every available Premier League minute.

Hassane Kamara (LB) - No player in the Premier League with more than a handful of minutes averages more interceptions than Watford's front-footed full back (clocking up five for every 90 minutes played per FBref).

2. Midfielders

Moussa Sissoko
Moussa Sissoko has played more Premier League minutes than any other Watford teammate this season (2,500) / Charlie Crowhurst/GettyImages

Juraj Kucka (CM) - The 35-year-old Serie A veteran is the only Premier League player to have completed the trifecta of self-destruction this season; conceding a penalty, scoring an own goal and getting sent off.

Imran Louza (CM) - The substitution of Louza against Arsenal in Watford's last home match prompted boos from the crowd and a spiky response from Hodgson, who insisted: "I’ve got to keep picking the team to win games and not pick the team that the fans would like to see.”

Moussa Sissoko (CM) - Since an early removal on his debut in August - against his former side Spurs ironically - Sissoko has played every top-flight minute for the club he now captains.

3. Forwards

Ismaila Sarr (RW) - With Sarr in the starting XI, Watford have taken an average of 1.1 points per game. Without the jet-heeled winger, the Hornets have collected 0.4 PPG.

Emmanuel Dennis (ST) - Despite going goalless since the middle of February, Dennis has almost twice as many strikes as the team's next highest scorer. A worrying state of affairs for all concerned.

Cucho Hernandez (LW) - Watford's pint-sized pistolero has scored three goals in his last four outings, as many as he could plunder in his previous 35 top-flight appearances across England and Spain.

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