Preview: All you need to know as Manchester United travel to Vicarage Road in a must-win league game

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Manchester United return to Premier League action after the international break with lots of negative atmosphere around the club and a win on Saturday against Watford at Vicarage Road a must for Ole Solskjær and his Devils.


On the back of a 2-0 defeat in the Manchester derby the last time they are in action, a lot of things are going on at the club, with players looking to move away due to lack of playing time. Jesse Lingard in particular could be leaving the club in January.

The defeat to City dropped them to sixth on the log, overtaken by an Arsenal side that lost their first three games of the league season. They head into the kickoff knowing they will temporarily move back to fifth with a win, prior to the Gunners late kickoff at Anfield layer in the day.

At the same time, a loss could see them drop as low as 13th after the completion of the matchday, depending on results elsewhere as just three points separates sixth from 13th. A this is a much needed three points to restore the belief back in the group.

They come up against a Watford side, whose new manager, Claudio Ranieri is also in need of a positive result, after winning just one and losing three others in his first four games since replacing Xisco.

Watford are two points off the drop zone and with a club with Newcastle United still in the relegation zone, Ranieri will know 17th is not a place to be right now. The good news is a will could be enough to leave them in 14th come the end of the gameweek.

Head to Head

United boast a superior record in meetings between the two, winning nine and losing two of their last 11 meetings in all competitions, including coming out on top in the last two without conceding a goal.

Team news

Paul Pogba is suspended and injured, expected to be out for up to eight to ten weeks while Raphael Varane is expected to return from his hamstring injury in December, hence, this fixture comes too soon for the two France internationals. Edinson Cavani and Luke Shaw are other players expected to miss out for the visitors.

Ozan Tufan is an injury doubt for Watford while Juraj Kucka is suspended for a his marching orders against Arsenal in the 1-0 loss at the Emirates. Oghenekaro Etebo, Christian Kabasele, Ken Sema and Francisco Sierralta remain out injured.

Verdict

Manchester United to get a much needed win and leave Claudio Ranieri still without a second win since his return to the Premier League.

Predicted line-ups

Watford: Foster, Rose, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Kiko, Sissoko, Hernandez, Tufan, Sarr, Dennis, King.

Manchester United: De Gea, Telles, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, Ronaldo.


Afolabi Kehinde Hassan

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