Both clubs under new direction with the duo still finding their feet under their new bosses. Watford finding it quite easy, while Spurs take a stumble after every few steps forward.
Matchday 23 brings forth two clubs who have added new names to the respective rosters. Watford has added extra firepower while on a massive turnaround run in the Premier League, one of the best I’ve seen to date.
As for their opponents, Jose Mourinho has too injected more venom into their attack, but he faced a major problem with key players out injured and needed to redraw the blueprints in his maiden season at Tottenham.
Thankfully, in this case, there is a silver lining. Due to the change in hands at the wheel, the excitement of getting to see these new players and how they influence their team from the offset is the biggest prospect of the game.
The on-field battles
Spurs have only kept one clean sheet across all competitions since the arrival of Mourinho. The questions of has Jose improved Spurs defence has certainly been answered with this specific stat. This leaves the door wide open for Nigel to tell his attacking line to go at the visitor’s backline.
Troy Deeney, Gerard Deulofeu, and Ismaila Sarr have improved drastically under Pearson. They should be keeping the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sánchez, Japhet Tanganga, and Serge Aurier, busy all afternoon.
Tanganga and a Deulofeu battle will be one of the best we will get in this curtain-raiser. The former was a standout player in their 1-0 loss to EPL leaders, Liverpool. He contained Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah soundly in their meeting.
On the other hand, Deulofue was a difficult test for the Reds full-back when they met several weeks back. This displays exactly what we in for from two teams under new management. Over on the other end, Pearson has succeeded where Jose has failed.
He has plugged up most of the holes at the back and has afforded himself a five-game unbeaten run. Really wishing we get to see the new man in the middle from Benfica for Spurs. A player making waves in the football world. If Gedson Fernandes gets the nod from the manager, he will give Jose so much for going forward.
A Sarri and Serge Aurier fight on the side is another big mentioned. Both have made vast improvements in recent weeks. Who will pin who in their own half for the majority of the fixture?
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Watford’s awesome defence of late
His side has kept three clean sheets in six outings. They have only lost one game under the stewardship of the former Leicester man, and that came against Liverpool, who are just not a side any team wants to face.
With the Reds two goals, the have only conceded another two on their way to this Spurs visit. This has given the Hornets hope they could pull off a surprise victory. There should be no need for any of his new faces to come and play, as the starting 11 is firing on all cylinders.
Overview of Watford vs. Spurs
Spurs have only lost once to the hosts in the 13 meetings between the two. Watford has a chance to start placing a gap between them and whoever is in the relegation fight. Spurs needs three points if they are to keep any chances of Champions League football alive for next season.
They sit eighth in the Premier League standings and need to close down a nine-point gap to get that elusive fourth place from London rivals, Chelsea. A win for the home side can put four points clear of rejoining the bottom three.