Manchester United vs Watford LIVE: What time is it, what channel is it on, where can I watch it, odds and more
A look ahead to the game at Old Trafford
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Manchester United secured their highest finish since winning the league in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season with their drab draw at West Ham on Thursday. Second in the league and an FA Cup final to would be a very successful season for most Premier League clubs, but it feels a little disappointing, given how far ahead Manchester City are and that other big rivals Liverpool are in the Champions League final
By the end of the West Ham game Jose Mourinho’s side were time-wasting to secure the draw, which is an indictment in and of itself. They face Watford on the final day with second guaranteed and nothing to play for.
Given Watford’s history, the chances are not good that Javi Gracia is still in charge for the beginning of next season. There will be immense player turnover again, and Watford’s team will likely be reshaped under new management for another relegation scrap. Manchester United may rest players ahead of the FA Cup Final, and thus Watford may have a chance for a first win at Old Trafford since 1978.
Follow live coverage of the match below.
What time does it start?
Manchester United vs Watford kicks off at 3pm.
Where can I watch it?
Highlights from the game can be seen on Match of the Day from 10.30pm on Sunday.
It’s a big game for…
Michael Carrick makes his final appearance as a professional footballer, captaining Manchester United in his 464th appearance for the club. The 36-year-old is joining the club’s coaching setup for next year.
Best Stat
24 – The number of times Heurelho Gomes has punched the ball in Premier League action this season, tied with Jonas Lössl for most in the league.
Remember when…
Camilo Zuniga and Troy Deeney’s late goals took Watford past Manchester United in September of 2016. The 3-1 defeat was United’s third loss in eight days.
Player to watch…
Ashley Young scored twice against his former club in November. The 32-year old is one of Mourinho’s favourites and will presumably be headed for Russia with England after performing strongly throughout this season.
Past-three meetings…
- Watford 2 (Deeney, Doucoure) Manchester United 4 (Young 2, Martial, Lingard), Premier League, November 2017
- Manchester United 2 (Mata, Martial) Watford 0, Premier League, February 2017
- Watford 3 (Capoue, Zuniga, Deeney) Manchester United 1 (Rashford), Premier League, September 2016
Form Guide
- Manchester United: LWWWLD
- Watford: DLDDLW
Odds
- Manchester United Win: 33/100
- Watford Win: 8/1
- Draw: 23/5
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the final day of the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Harry Latham-Coyle will be with you a couple of hours before kick-off, but in the meantime why not read Miguel Delaney's review of a strange but ultimately fascinating campaign:
Good afternoon all, and welcome to the final day of the 2017-18 Premier League Season. The Independent's live blog will have updates from every game as the season reaches its conclusion. My name is Harry Latham-Coyle and I will be with you throughout the afternoon.
We are a little under an hour away from team news being confirmed for this afternoon's ten games. Let's run down what is still to play for today...
The battle for fourth place is still on, but Liverpool are certainly in the driving seat. Chelsea could only manage a draw with Huddersfield in the week, leaving them two points behind Liverpool and with an insurmountable difference in goal difference. Chelsea must beat Newcastle at St James' Park and hope Brighton can shock Liverpool at Anfield.
It will take something truly astonishing for Swansea to survive. They lost at home to Southampton on Tuesday night, taking their opponents three points clear and with a far-superior goal difference. A ten-goal swing is needed, and Swansea haven't scored in their last four games. However...
Swansea play relegated Stoke, who have nothing to play for. And former manager Mark Hughes is now in charge of Southampton. Could Stoke roll over?
Southampton host Manchester City, about the only team in the country one could envisage scoring more than five, particularly as they chase the victory that would take them to 100 points for the season. It would be a truly extraordinary escape for Swansea, but anything can happen in football. 4-0 at the Liberty Stadium, 0-6 at St Mary's would send Southampton down. Surely not...
There is still the battle for the Golden Boot to sort out, too. Mohamed Salah has 31 goals and Harry Kane 28 heading into this afternoon. Kane loves a late-season hat-trick, and although Salah is expected to start for Liverpool, he may not play the full game with the Champions League Final just a couple of weeks away. It is again unlikely, but we've seen odd things occur on the final day before.
The top four assist-makers in this season's Premier League all ply their trade at the Etihad, and one of Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane will be the assist king this season. Sane drew level with his teammate against Brighton on Wednesday with a hat-trick of assists, taking him to 15 on the season. De Bruyne did not play in that game. Either, or both, could notch at least a couple more today.
Arsenal, and perhaps the Premier League, will bid farewell to Arsene Wenger today. His side are at the John Smith's Stadium to meet Huddersfield, who celebrated wildly on Wednesday after the draw at Stamford Bridge that secured survival. An entertaining Arsenal win would be a fitting conclusion to a remarkable career at the club for one of the Premier League's greatest managers.
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