Watford v Everton

Marco Silva makes a much anticipated return to the club who sacked him little over a year ago looking to get his current side back to winning ways.

Everton showed spirit and fight against now-table-topping Manchester City on Wednesday evening, but zonal marking and no creativity was once again the Blues’ downfall.

Goals from Aymeric Laporte and Gabriel Jesus condemned the Toffees to a fourth loss in their last five outings.

Watford, who are supposedly having a great season, are just a point better off than their Merseyside counterparts.

The Hornets are winless in their last three Premier League games, two stalemates with Brighton and Burnley and a 2-1 Wembley loss to Spurs.

Since Watford’s promotion in 2015, the Blues have failed to win at Vicarage Road.

A 1-1 draw in their first term back in the top flight was followed by consecutive wins for the home side, coming out 3-2 and 1-0 victors.

The reverse fixture at Goodison was a disappointing draw.

Richarlison opened the scoring against his former employers before a Séamus Coleman own goal and a strike from one time Everton target Abdoulaye Doucoure flipped the clash on its head.

Everton needed an injury time free-kick from Lucas Digne to snatch a point.

One to watch 

Everton’s susceptibility from set pieces is there for all to see.

It has almost became an inevitability when the opposition get a corner or a free-kick around the 18 yard box that Jordan Pickford will be picking the ball out the back of his net.

That is why Troy Deeney will be key for Watford

At 6ft, he won’t be the tallest centre forward Everton will face this campaign but his pure brute strength and bullish approach means he will get his head on any ball that comes into the box.

If defending set pieces hasn’t been on the agenda this week at USM Finch Farm, Deeney could run riot.

Team news 

Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines are out. Yerry Mina is doubtful but does have a chance to be involved.

Hornets boss Javi Gracia will hope to have Doucoure back at his disposal, but the Spaniard will be without Roberto Pereyra, Isaac Success and Sebastian Prodl.

Man in the middle 

Lee Probert will take charge of this one. He has only refereed Everton once this season, that was in the Blues’ 2-2 draw away at Bournemouth where he sent off both Richarlison and Adam Smith.

In 20 games in all competitions this season he has shown 68 yellow cards and six reds.