Get ready for a painful trip down memory lane for Watford fans as they face off against Manchester City in the EFL Cup third-round clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
The reigning Premier League champs, Manchester City, are entering one of their favorite competitions under Pep Guardiola, but they've got some ground to make up since their last EFL Cup win in the 2020-21 season.
Meanwhile, Watford has already taken down MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle to secure this marquee matchup. But, let's be real, their recent form has been bleak. They've lost their momentum after a blazing start under Tom Cleverley, with only one point from three Championship games this month.
The head-to-head stats are even grimmer for Watford. They've lost 15 straight games against Manchester City since 2017, conceding an astonishing 58 goals. Ouch!
On the flip side, Manchester City is still riding high from their electrifying 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday, courtesy of John Stones' dramatic late goal.
However, with only one full day of rest, we might see some changes to the lineup - including possibly benching the phenomenal Erling Haaland, who just scored his 100th goal for the team.
Can Watford pull off a stunning upset, or will Manchester City continue their dominance? The stage is set for an intense showdown.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Rodri's weekend was one to forget, going down twice in the draw - first after a mere five seconds of play and then with what looked like a serious knee injury. City fans are holding their breath, eagerly awaiting an update on his condition.
On the injury front, Kevin De Bruyne's groin issue kept him out of the Arsenal clash, and it's wise to give him more time to recover before throwing him back into action. Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are also sidelined with leg and thigh injuries, respectively.
Pep Guardiola might seize this opportunity to shake things up, making up to 11 changes to his lineup. He could also dip into City's talented Under-21s pool, giving rising star Nico O'Reilly a chance to shine.
Watford, meanwhile, had their own injury woes in the loss to Norwich. Goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann and defender Francisco Sierralta were forced off early, and it's uncertain how severe their issues are. Given the quick turnaround, it's unlikely they'll feature at the Etihad, making way for Jonathan Bond and Ryan Porteous to step in.
The Hornets will also be without Kevin Keben, nursing a knee injury, and Daniel Jebbison, who's cup-tied due to his earlier involvement with Bournemouth in the second round. It's a testing time for Tom Cleverley's squad.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ortega; Lewis, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Wilson-Esbrand; Nunes, Wright; O'Reilly, McAtee, Grealish; Foden
Watford possible starting lineup:
Bond; Morris, Pollock, Porteous; Andrews, Dele-Bashiru, Sissoko, Sema; Chakvetadze, Baah; Bayo
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester City 3-0 Watford
Despite Pep Guardiola ringing in the changes and giving some of City's young guns a chance to shine, you can bet on Manchester City's goal-scoring machine keeping its momentum against Watford.
The Citizens have consistently found the back of the net multiple times against Watford in the past, and there's no reason to think that'll change now. Watford is struggling to find its footing, and the timing couldn't be worse - they've lost two key defenders to injury.
Morale is at an all-time low for Tom Cleverley's side, and it's hard to see them pulling off a shock result against even a makeshift Manchester City team. City's depth is just too impressive, and their talented youngsters will be eager to make a statement.
So, expect Manchester City to cruise into the fourth round, continuing their dominance over Watford. It's shaping up to be a long night for the Hornets
