Europa League football means that Burnley are back in action on a Sunday and George Pitts looks at some bets for the game.
Burnley v Watford (1330 BST)
A tough one to call so early in the season, but injuries and Europa League involvement could play a part in this one.
Burnley took a step closer to qualification for group stages of the UEFA competition with a 1-0 extra-time win over Turkish outfit Istanbul Basaksehir. Sean Dyche praised his side's fitness to overcome their opponents and they now just need to beat Greek side Olympiakos in a two-legged play-off.
What is key for Dyche first, though, is Sunday's clash at Turf Moor and rotation will be vital. He should be boosted by the fact Chris Wood, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and James Tarkowski are expected to be back in contention as they look to build on their opening-game draw at Southampton.
Javi Gracia's Watford, meanwhile, made light work of Brighton in their first game, with a convincing 2-0 victory and we are backing them to take confidence into this match and triumph again.
Roberto Pereyra netted both goals to give the Hornets renewed optimism and, while at various stages of the season you would call draw on this one, we are backing Watford to get the victory - available at a best price of 27/11.
Betting guide
Prediction: Burnley 0-1 Watford (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)
Best Bet: Watford to win at 27/11
Burnley have the distraction of the Europa League and they barely got going last time out, so extra-time could hamper them again at Turf Moor. Watford, meanwhile, will have the wind in their sails after a morale-boosting victory over Brighton on the opening day.
Scorer: Andre Gray to score first and Watford to win either 1-0 or 2-0 at 25/1
We are backing the forward to find the back of the net against his former club after a lively showing against Brighton at Vicarage Road.
He put in a shift for the Hornets and was deserving of his standing ovation after being replaced in the second half - now a goal would help him kick on and fire on a regular basis for the Hertfordshire outfit.
RequestABet: Gray to score and Watford to win at 6/1
Opta pre-match stats
- Burnley have won three of their four Premier League meetings with Watford (L1), including both matches last season.
- Watford haven’t won any of their last 10 away league games against Burnley (D4 L6), failing to score in the last three. Their last win at Turf Moor was back in April 2004 (3-2).
- Watford haven’t scored in their last 349 minutes of league football at Turf Moor against Burnley since a Nathaniel Chalobah goal in the 11th minute of their 1-1 draw in the Championship in December 2012.
- Burnley are winless in their last six Premier League games (D3 L3), following a run of five wins in a row in March and April last season.
- At home, Burnley have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 Premier League games (W2 D3 L5) – a 0-0 draw with Brighton in April.
- Watford are winless in their last 12 Premier League away games, losing 11 of these.
- Watford have failed to score in their last eight away Premier League games, since a 1-3 defeat at Man City in January. Only Crystal Palace (10) and West Ham (9) have ever had longer goalless runs away from home in the competition.
- Burnley’s Sam Vokes has scored four goals in 10 league games against Watford – only against Nottingham Forest (8) and Charlton (7) has he scored more in English league football.
- Watford’s Roberto Pereyra has scored five goals in his last seven Premier League games, though all of these have come at Vicarage Road.
- Watford have failed to score in any of their seven away Premier League games under Javi Gracia. No manager has seen their team have a longer wait for an away goal from their first match in the competition (Billy Davies and Mick McCarthy also seven).
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLife
Odds correct as of 2200 BST on 17/08/18
