Watford

We're now less than an hour away from kick-off between Everton and Watford at Goodison Park.

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You'll be able to catch up with all the post-match reaction on this page after full-time.

Rafa Benitez makes two changes to the side that lost to West Ham, with Anthony Gordon and Tom Davies in for Abdoulaye Doucouré and Alex Iwobi.

Everton starting XI: Pickford, Coleman, Godfrey, Keane, Digne; Townsend, Davies, Allan, Gordon; Gray, Rondon.

Substitutes: Begovic, Lonergan, Kenny, Holgate, Richarlkison, Iwobi, Gbamin, Dobbin,

Image source, BBC Sport

There are changes to Watford's starting line up from the side that were thrashed by Liverpool, with Jeremy Ngakia, Joshua King and Ozan Tufan brought in for Danny Rose, Emmanuel Dennis and Kiko Femenia by Claudio Ranieri.

Watford starting XI: Foster, Nkagia, Ekong, Cathcart, Tufan, Masina; KIng, Kucka, Sissoko, Hernandez; Sarr.

Substitutes: Bachmann, Lauza, Cleverley, Pedro, Sema, Nkoulou, Gosling, Fletcher, Dennis.

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Lawrenson takes on Elena Cole and Haydn Craven, stars of football drama Jamie Johnson, for the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Lawro's prediction: 2-0

I'm not sure what Watford were trying to do in their 5-0 defeat by Liverpool last weekend, in Claudio Ranieri's first game as Hornets boss.

They made it so easy for Liverpool, and didn't even start to try to play until they were 4-0 down.

Watford have to do more here, but I don't think this is a good time for them to play Everton, who were beaten at home by former manager David Moyes' West Ham at the weekend.

We will see a reaction from Rafa Benitez's side too, that's for sure. I know they are still without Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front, but they should still win this one.

Elena's prediction: I've got to go for the Everton win, haven't I? We've made a good start to the season, but we just need to keep it up. I don't think we will make the top four, but we can finish in the top six. 2-0

Haydn's prediction: Elena went for an Everton win? That won't happen - no chance! 1-1

Find out how Lawro, Elena and Haydn think the rest of this week's fixtures will go

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

I put it to Watford head coach Claudio Ranieri that it must be a good time to play Everton - who will be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure and possibly Richarlison. His amused reply was “let’s wait and see”.  

But surely it must be more preferable to play the Toffees without three of their best players? The latter two, of course, are former Watford stars. 

They left the Hornets to progress their careers - Doucoure, 27 at the time, for a fee rising to about £25m, and Richarlison, then 21, for up to £50m. Other good ones have gone too over the last few years, for money, such as Gerard Deulofeu, Will Hughes, Roberto Pereyra and Etienne Capoue. 

Compare that to the first team now: Ben Foster, Danny Rose, Craig Cathcart, Kiko Femenia, Moussa Sissoko, Tom Cleverley, Juraj Kucka and Nicolas Nkoulou are all in their 30s. This is currently an ageing Watford first team with saleable assets in much shorter supply, which is a worry - especially with the threat of relegation. 

Ranieri hinted he might need younger legs in midfield at Goodison Park. His only options are Ozan Tufan (who's on loan) and Imran Louza.

Ismaila Sarr - who is the Hornets' most valuable asset - is set to return to his usual right wing role after the tinkering last weekend didn't work; he's been tried before as striker and it failed.

Ranieri might also be tempted to start another youngster, Joao Pedro, who was the only Watford player to look composed and comfortable against Liverpool when he came on.

You can listen to commentary on Everton v Watford on BBC Three Counties Radio 103.8 and 92.1FM

Everton forward Richarlison is back in full training and could play after a five-match absence with a knee injury.

Abdoulaye Doucoure is out with a fractured metatarsal, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh problem.

Watford forward Joshua King has recovered from a knee injury but Kiko Femenia is a doubt.

Francisco Sierralta, Christian Kabasele and Peter Etebo are definitely unavailable.

Who makes your Everton team this weekend?

Pick and share your Watford XI here

Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 at Vicarage Road in the latest round of Premier League fixtures - but who were the top fantasy football performers from the match?

Unsurprisingly, the bonus points all went to Liverpool players:

• Roberto Firmino (3)

• Mohamed Salah (2)

• James Milner (1)

So which Watford and Liverpool players - if any - should be making it into your team for gameweek nine? Don't forget this week's deadline is 18:30 BST on Friday before Arsenal face Aston Villa.

Read Alistair Bruce-Ball's fantasy football tips to find out

And listen to the Fantasy 606 podcast on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone, BBC Sport

An interesting financial announcement was made around Watford yesterday.

They have borrowed £8.075m from MacQuarie Bank as an advance on money owed to them by Udinese.

Presumably this will be connected either to the transfers of Roberto Pereyra, Gerard Deulofeu, Isaac Success or Ignacio Pussetto, who has returned to Italy on loan. Those clubs do a lot of business together.

Watford and Udinese have the same owners.

Image source, Getty Images

Watford manager Claudio Ranieri has demanded a reaction from his players following the 5-0 defeat by Liverpool when they face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Ranieri, who turned 70 on Wednesday, took charge of his first game as Hornets boss against the Reds but says the display "wasn't the true Watford".

He believes he has seen positive signs after working with his players this week, having only had two days with them before the Liverpool fixture.

“The mood is very good, they work very well during the week," said the Italian. "Of course they aren’t happy, they know we played very badly against Liverpool. I am the first to recognise that, but we have to react and show our best.

“Every time I talk to my players it’s important the feeling between me and them. I will give them all of my experience and all of my support. It’s not important if they make mistakes because everyone makes mistakes, but it’s important how you react. I want to see how they react against Everton.

“This week I worked well with all my players and day-by-day they understand my idea about football better."

The Hornets have failed to win any of their last three matches in the Premier League and sit 16th in the table.

Read more from Ranieri and other Premier League managers in our live page.

Image source, Getty Images

Everton host Watford in the Premier League this weekend - but what happened when the two teams last met in the top flight?

Theo Walcott struck an injury-time winner as 10-man Everton came back from two goals down to beat Watford 3-2 in a topsy-turvy encounter at Vicarage Road in February 2020.

Goals from Adam Masina and Roberto Pereyra had put Watford in control but Toffees central defender Yerry Mina scored twice in first-half added time to level it.

Everton were reduced to 10 men following Fabian Delph's dismissal for two yellow cards but Walcott finished off a late counter-attack, as Watford pressed for the winner, to clinch the points.

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Claudio Ranieri has been speaking to the media before Watford’s trip to Everton on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the key points from the Hornets boss:

• He wants to see a reaction after the "tremendous defeat" to Liverpool. "We have to improve everything - 100, 200%," he says. "Against Liverpool wasn't the true Watford."

• Striker Joshua King is back in contention after missing that 5-0 loss with a knee injury. The ex-Toffees striker has returned to full training this week.

• Nicolas Nkoulou is training with the squad again as he builds up towards match fitness but is unlikely to be risked. "If I put him in before he can play well, it's worse for him and worse for the team."

• He hinted he may have to alter his experienced but ageing midfield to get more 'legs' in the middle of the park: "Yes could be. I have very good players in that position. I have to know very well all my players".

• Defender Kiko Femenía is a doubt after picking a hip injury last weekend. Francisco Sierralta, Christian Kabasele and Peter Etebo all remain out.

You can follow all of Thursday's news conferences in our live page here.

• Everton have lost eight home league games so far in 2021, with the Toffees last losing more at Goodison Park in a calendar year in 2005 (nine).

• Watford have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League away games (won one), failing to score on seven occasions in that run.

• Meanwhile, Watford’s last six Premier League away wins have been against sides with an average position of 18th in the league table. The Hornets haven’t won away against a side in the top half of the Premier League since December 2018 (2-0 vs West Ham), drawing two, losing 13 and conceding 41 goals in their 15 such games since.

Watford boss Claudio Ranieri is due to speak to the media at about 13:00 BST on Thursday.

Catch up with all the key lines from his news conference on this page later.

Follow Thursday's news conferences in our live page

• Everton have never lost a home game to Watford in any competition (13 wins, two draws) – it’s the most they’ve ever faced a side at home without defeat in their history.

• Watford have won three of their past eight league games against Everton (one draw, four defeats), more than they had in their first 18 such meetings with the Toffees (two wins, three draws, 13 defeats). However, they lost home and away against them in their last Premier League campaign of 2019-20.

• Everton have lost five of their past eight home Premier League games against newly-promoted sides (two wins, one draw), including two of their three last season (v Leeds and Fulham). Indeed, since 2018-19, this is the most such defeats of any side, with Leicester City next on three.

Watford visit Everton in the latest round of Premier League fixtures on Saturday, but who will make it into Claudio Ranieri's starting XI?

You'll be able to pick - and share on social media - your own line-up for every Premier League game throughout the campaign.

It's up to you how to approach it - you could go for the team you WANT the boss to pick or the one you THINK he will.

Either way, it's time to choose your Hornets team to face Everton

Matt Rowson, BHaPPY blog, external

On the corner of Vicarage Road and Fearnley Street is a newsagent, a non-negotiable stopping point. For all that it can be busy a period of calm focus is required in front of the confectionery as the day’s half-time lucky chocolate is selected.  This matters.

Further down on the right is Vicarage Road cemetery, resting place of many of the great and good of Watford’s past.  Colin will be selling fanzines with a grin and an “alright mate?” before you get to the club shop on the corner of the ground, far grander than in days of yore.

Outside sits a statue of Graham Taylor; all are welcome to sit alongside him on his touchline bench for a photo opportunity.

Behind the shop inside the stadium is the Sensory Room, a space developed to accommodate kids on the autistic spectrum in gentler surroundings.

Behind the Graham Taylor Stand is Watford General Hospital, who the club supported in the height of the pandemic by giving staff access to the calm of the stadium, free meals, washing scrubs.

Behind the Sir Elton John Stand opposite drops Occupation Road, a narrow thoroughfare that’s busy long before kick-off and a heaving mass of reflection after the game.

The ground was built into the site of an old quarry - you enter the Vicarage Road end near the top of the stand, but the Rookery opposite at it’s bottom.  That walk down the hill is where you switch from looking forward to the game to being in it, involved in it, part of it, everything in common with those around you for a couple of hours.

Also, we’ve got a new manager (yes yes, again) and got stuffed by Liverpool. But you knew that.