Brighton and Watford got off to great starts to the Premier League season. The Seagulls came from behind to defeat Burnley at Turf Moor 2-1.
Watford controlled their game from the start against Aston Villa, winning 3-2. At one point, the Hornets were up 3-0 before Aston Villa made a comeback. The final scoreline flattered the Villains, however.
What a win, #OnThisDay in 2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣! Goals from @GM_83, @ShaneDuffy and Pascal Gross secured victory over #MUFC. 🤩 🏨 @Harbour_Hotels // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Hnd3SanHKj— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 19, 2021
What a win, #OnThisDay in 2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣! Goals from @GM_83, @ShaneDuffy and Pascal Gross secured victory over #MUFC. 🤩 🏨 @Harbour_Hotels // #BHAFC 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Hnd3SanHKj
These teams last played during the 2019-20 season with Brighton taking four points from six possible. Watford were relegated at the end of that season to the Championship, where they finished second last term.
Between 2017 and 2020, Brighton and Watford met six times in the Premier League. The teams drew three of those six fixtures with Brighton claiming two wins and Watford one in the other three encounters.
Brighton manager Graham Potter has six players on the team’s injury list going into matchday 2. Striker Danny Welbeck is still ruled out with a thigh injury. He won’t return until September.
Full-back Tariq Lamptey remains out of action with a long-term thigh injury. Joining the duo on the sidelines are Joel Veltman, Dan Burn, and Kjell Scherpen. Meanwhile, forward Aaron Connolly is a doubt due to personal reasons.
Watford manager Xisco Munoz will be without forward Joao Pedro, who is nursing a knee injury. There is hope that Nathaniel Chalobah and Josh King will return to action following their bouts with illness and groin strain respectively.
The Hornets signed Turkey international Ozan Tufan this week from Fenerbahce. Tufan will add more depth to the team’s midfield as Will Hughes’ exit looks more imminent. Tufan could be registered and fit enough to make the squad on Saturday.
Munoz should stick with a similar team to the one deployed on matchday 1 with Tom Cleverly and Juraj Kucka playing in front of a defensive midfielder that protects the back four. Ismaila Sarr starred for the team on the right wing.
It took Brighton 73 minutes to break down Burnley’s defence on matchday 1. Neal Maupay opened the team’s scoring. He led the Seagulls in goals last term and could do it again this campaign. He has scored 10 and eight goals in the last two seasons respectively.
After matchday 1 wins, Saturday’s game between Brighton and Watford should be close with neither side finding the winning goal. Like their last match at the Amex Stadium in 2019-20, Saturday’s game should finish in a score draw with under 2.5 goals.