West Ham’s unbeaten streak has been extended to four games with another multi-point performance against Fulham. With the firepower assuredly banging for the Irons, how to the Hornets of Watford stack up?
Felipe Anderson, Robert Snodgrass, Chicharito and possibly a returning Marko Arnautovic and Lucas Perez all boast a multifaceted and dangerous West Ham attack. While Watford sit just below West Ham on the table, they have a varied approach to goalscoring with midfielders and defenders in the mix alongside their forwards.
Here are the names to watch for ahead of the Watford match:
The Goalscoring Leader, Ricardo Pereyra:
Watford’s leading goalscorer got off to a blazing start this season, scoring two goals in the season opener against Brighton. Now sitting with five goals on the season, Pereyra is proving to be a deadly midfield option for Watford operating behind the forward line, but ahead of the stalwart defensive midfield dup of Doucoure and Capoue.
Despite his solid goal total, Pereyra has gone cold as of late and hasn’t scored since October 27th against Huddersfield. That being said, in this match and on this goal Pereyra showed off some insane dribbling skills to break in from the wing, and cool composure to finish with the keeper and defenders closing in on him rapidly.
Pereyra is a player who likely won’t garner much attention throughout this match but has the potential to burn you if left alone. He has stacked on the left side of an attacking midfield duo meaning he’ll probably draw Pablo Zabaleta in coverage.
The Striker Options:
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The options are led by bombastic and physical striker Troy Deeney, a man who has been defined by his loyalty and success with his home club. He’s been uncharacteristically slow with goalscoring this season, tied for fourth in team scoring with two goals so far. Deeney scored both of his goals in the first month of the season but is still a favorite to score due to his penalty responsibilities and his physical style of play. Deeney is a world-class agitator and will be a handful for West Ham’s defenders.
Gerard Deulofeu is next up and may be the most threatening of the Watford scoring options. Originally brought over to Watford on a loan from Barcelona, Deulofeu has settled in as a forward who can play across the front line as a winger or centre-forward beside a Deeney-esque striker. He missed the beginning of the season with a foot injury but has been solid in recent weeks scoring two goals and adding two assists, good for (tied) fourth in the team. He’ll use his speed to beat defenders and is an efficient finishing making him a potential handful for Arthur Masuaku.
The final forward of note is Andre Gray. As a starter for the Hornets, Gray has added three goals this season and is tied for second in team scoring. He hasn’t started a match since October 6th, and as expected, hasn’t had much of an effect. Regardless, Gray is a quick striker who can stretch defenses to close out a match.
Three More to Watch:
West Ham wantaway prospect Domingos Quina is certainly a player to look out for. He scored a terrific effort in his last match against Cardiff City and has a lot of “regret selling me” potential. More on him here.
Fullback José Holebas has been an unexpected sparkplug for Watford and is currently tied with Gray for second in team scoring. A marauding defender who likes to take the middle of the pitch when he can, Holebas is someone to watch when it comes to build up play or play down the wing for a goal or assist.
Lastly is defensive midfielder and possibly the most underrated player in the Premier League, Abdoulaye Doucoure. The French midfielder is chipping in the goals for Watford, 2 so far, as well as limiting chances against by being the Hornets’ Declan Rice.