Predicted Newcastle United line-up to face Watford in the Premier League
Newcastle United will be aiming to forget the pounding they received at the hands of Liverpool and focus on getting a positive result against Watford this Saturday. The Magpies are currently 15th in the table, five points ahead of the danger zone. But the games they have in early January clearly means that they need to get something out of the match this weekend.
They are up against a Watford side who are playing good football and gave it their all in a narrow defeat to Chelsea. Hence, it won’t be easy for Rafa Benitez’s men, especially because this game is away from home.
Team News
Jonjo Shelvey is still suffering from a thigh injury and the Saturday game may come too early for him. Ciaran Clark is also in a similar situation, nursing an ankle problem. Ki Sung-Yueng is out for a month, representing his country in the AFC Asian Cup. Florian Lejeune is a long-term absentee.
Probable Newcastle United XI
Formation: 5-4-1
Manager: Rafa Benitez
Martin Dubravka (GK)
The Slovak has been one of the best players in the Newcastle team this season. His saves are always important.
DeAndre Yedlin (RWB)
He is expected to start at right wing-back and bomb forward to help the attack. None of that happened against Liverpool but it should happen vs Watford.
Federico Fernandez (RCB)
He is back fit now and starts on the right-hand side of the central defence, just like he did at Anfield.
Jamaal Lascelles (CB)
The captain needs to lead his team in the right manner in such a big game, especially considering the tough games coming up.
Paul Dummett (LCB)
He is better suited to playing as a wide centre-back rather than as a full-back. And Benitez has been offering him that role in the past few games.
Matt Ritchie (LWB)
Ritchie is playing at wing-back, partly because he can move forward and put some delicious crosses in. He works hard off the ball as well.
Jacob Murphy (RW)
The pace and direct running of Murphy could come in handy in a game where the Magpies have a chance of troubling the opposition.
Isaac Hayden (CM)
With Ki and Shelvey out, expect Hayden to start alongside Mohamed Diame in central midfield.
Mohamed Diame (CM)
He starts every league game for the Magpies, chiefly because he is their best midfielder in terms of work rate.
Ayoze Perez (LW)
Perez can start on the left wing and then drift in to support the striker. He has been in decent form recently.
Salomon Rondon (ST)
Newcastle’s top scorer of the season didn’t even get a minute to play at Anfield. It was clear that he was being preserved for this game.
