Preview: Watford vs. Norwich City - prediction, team news, lineups

A battle between two relegation rivals will ensue in the Premier League on Tuesday evening as Watford play host to Norwich City at Vicarage Road.

The hosts go into the game one point above the relegation zone in 17th, whereas Norwich are seven points adrift of safety at this late stage of the campaign.

Match preview

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Watford were always going to be facing an uphill battle against a Champions League-chasing Chelsea side at the weekend, and it was the Blues who took the spoils at Stamford Bridge despite a valiant start from Nigel Pearson 's Watford.

Goals from Olivier Giroud, Willian and Ross Barkley condemned Watford to their third defeat in succession, although Aston Villa's failure to beat Liverpool on Sunday means that the Hornets remain teetering just above the bottom three in 17th at this stage.

However, despite their problematic position near the foot of the table, Pearson's side have only lost twice on home soil since December, and the Hornets have enjoyed victories against Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Vicarage Road this season.

As per usual, the relegation battle is expected to go right down to the wire, and with Watford's final two fixtures coming against Manchester City and Arsenal, getting three points on the board against a struggling Norwich side will be of paramount importance to Pearson this Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, Norwich supporters would have been forgiven for thinking that their side had a chance of taking all three points against Brighton & Hove Albion, but as has been the case throughout their Premier League season, the Canaries ultimately came up short at Carrow Road.

Leandro Trossard 's deft finish ensured that the Seagulls travelled back to the South Coast with all three points - a result which leaves Norwich firmly rooted to the bottom of the table with five games left to play.

The Canaries are yet to register a point on the board since the restart and have now lost their last six games in all competitions, and barring a miraculous turnaround in the final few weeks, Daniel Farke will have to prepare for an immediate return to the second tier.

Following Villa's 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday, Norwich currently sit seven points adrift of safety after 33 matches, and the Canaries have only amassed six points on the road all season heading into the clash with Watford.

Furthermore, Farke's men have only found the back of the net once on their travels since the turn of the year, and the Premier League's basement side still have fixtures against Chelsea, Burnley and Manchester City to contend with as they look to pull off an improbable escape from the relegation zone.

Goals from Gerard Deulofeu and Andre Gray gave Watford a 2-0 win at Carrow Road earlier in the season.

Watford Premier League form: WLDLLL

Norwich City Premier League form: WLLLLL

Norwich City form (all competitions): LLLLLL

Team News

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Watford have no fresh injury concerns heading into the midweek clash, although Deulofeu, Isaac Success and Daryl Janmaat are all injured.

Gray returned to the bench against Chelsea after missing out against Southampton following an alleged breach of lockdown rules, while Danny Welbeck is unlikely to be risked from the off.

Craig Cathcart and Roberto Pereyra had to settle for a place amongst the substitutes at Chelsea but the pair could return to the starting XI for the visit of Norwich.

Two players who Norwich are expected to welcome back are Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki - both of whom only made the bench against Brighton.

Christoph Zimmermann is back in training is not expected to play a part before the season is over, while Grant Hanley, Sam Byram and Moritz Leitner all remain on the treatment table.

Watford possible starting lineup:

Foster; Mariappa, Cathcart, Dawson, Masina; Hughes, Chalobah; Sarr, Doucoure, Pereyra; Deeney

Norwich City possible starting lineup:

Krul; Aarons, Godfrey, Klose, Lewis; McLean, Tettey; Buendia, Duda, Cantwell; Pukki

We say: Watford 2-1 Norwich City

With both clubs fighting for their right to play in the top level of English football next season, something has to give. Even though Watford do not inspire much confidence, Norwich have been abysmal on the road this season and we are backing the hosts to boost their survival bid and take all three points in midweek.