Premier League preview: Watford primed to build on last season's high
Watford manager Javi Gracia has chosen not to meddle much with his side, sparring a few tweaks.
Published : Aug 09, 2019 22:48 IST
Watford comes into the 2019-20 Premier League season on the high of its best league finish in 24 years and a first FA Cup final appearance in 35 years. Although the Hornets finished 11th and slipped to a string of losses towards the fag end of the league, they racked up 50 points to record their most successful campaign in four seasons. And rightfully so, manager Javi Gracia has chosen not to meddle much with his side, sparring a few tweaks.
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The side bears a new promising look with the arrival of former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck and club-record signing Ismaila Sarr, while it will have stability with the presence of last season's stars in Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney.
The last two mentioned gentlemen were pivotal in Watford's success as they netted at will and combined well with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue. Doucoure's phenomenal work-rate and sublime ability to constantly zip up and down the wings has made him a force to reckon with and was also the subject of interest this transfer window. Along with fellow defensive mainstay Capoue, the pair scored nine and assisted just as many goals last season.
The Hornets had a fairly impressive pre-season campaign that saw the side slip to an opening loss to Champions League semifinalist Ajax but then recovered to post wins over Bayer Leverkusen, QPR, and Real Sociedad.
Player to watch out for
Sarr
All eyes will be on Sarr, who was roped in for a fee estimated to be around £30 million. The 21-year-old Senegalese, who was recently in action at the African Cup of Nations and even bagged a goal, is equally adept on both feet and is a dominating force up front. Combining with the likes of Doucoure and Capoue, one can expect Sarr to have a strong impact on the Hornets' campaign this year.
Watford will host Brighton and Hove Albion for its Premier League season opener on August 10.
Watford's transfer activity
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Premier League fixtures
August
10: Watford v Brighton
17: Everton v Watford
24: Watford v West Ham United
31: Newcastle United v Watford
September
15: Watford v Arsenal
21: Manchester City v Watford
28: Wolves v Watford
October
5: Watford v Sheffield United
19: Tottenham Hotspur v Watford
26: Watford v Bournemouth
November
2: Watford v Chelsea
9: Norwich City v Watford
23: Watford v Burnley
30: Southampton v Watford
December
3: Leicester City v Watford
7: Watford v Crystal Palace
14: Liverpool v Watford
21: Watford v Manchester United
26: Sheffield United v Watford
28: Watford v Aston Villa
January
1: Watford v Wolves
11: Bournemouth v Watford
18: Watford v Tottenham
21: Aston Villa v Watford
February
1: Watford v Everton
8: Brighton v Watford
22: Manchester United v Watford
29: Watford v Liverpool
March
7: Crystal Palace v Watford
14: Watford v Leicester City
21: Burnley v Watford
April
4: Watford v Southampton
11: Chelsea v Watford
18: Watford v Norwich City
25: Watford v Newcastle United
May
2: West Ham United v Watford
9: Watford v Manchester City
17: Arsenal v Watford