Watford vs Aston Villa prediction: How will Premier League fixture play out today?

All you need to know as the season gets started

Aston Villa head to Watford as both teams start their Premier League campaigns on Saturday.

Dean Smith and his side are hoping to show they were never a one-man team with Jack Grealish as they start a season without him following his move to Manchester City, with Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey hoping to make up for that loss of creativity in the wide areas.

Danny Ings should also bring more firepower in attack, lightening the load on Ollie Watkins.

Watford are back in the big time after their promotion last season, and an interesting side story to the game is their summer attempts to lure Ashley Young back to his former stomping ground - which he did, to be fair, but signing for Villa instead of the Hornets.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game.

When is the match?

The game kicks off at 3pm at Vicarage Road, on Saturday 14 August 2021.

Where can I watch it?

The match will not be shown live on TV in the UK and is not set for live streaming either as the 3pm blackout returns, with fans back in stadiums. Highlights will be on BBC One from 10:20pm.

Confirmed line-ups

Watford XI: Bachmann; Kabasele, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Masina; Etebo, Cleverley, Kucka; Sarr, Sema, Dennis

Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Buendia, Nakamba, McGinn, Young, El Ghazi; Ings

Odds

Watford 12/5

Draw 12/5

Aston Villa 13/9

Prediction

Home advantage, adrenaline of being back in the big time and Villa yet to have all their big players in top fitness condition - a point at least for the Hornets. Watford 1-1 Aston Villa.