Newly-promoted and struggling sides Brentford and Watford meet at the Brentford Community Stadium to kickoff the Premier League weekend with a battle of bees... and a battle of fords (watch live, 3pm ET Friday on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com).
STREAM LIVE BRENTFORD vs WATFORD - LINK
This is a pivotal stretch of Watford’s season, as the Hornets face Brentford, Burnley, and Crystal Palace in an 11-day stretch of matches that do not feature Premier League powers (even if Palace is playing quite well under Patrick Vieira).
The Hornets are just three points above the drop zone, where three teams sit with 10 points, but Brentford’s cooled season has it just seven points above the bottom three. Life would feel a lot better for Thomas Frank’s men with a win over Watford, which could send them into the top half of the Premier League table.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Brentford vs Watford.
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Brentford team news, injuries, lineup options
The Bees are buzzing with fewer numbers, as Kristoffer Ajer, Sergi Canos, David Raya, Mathias Jorgensen, Julian Jeanvier, and Joshua Dasilva are out through injury or suspension, while Ivan Toney remains in COVID-19 protocol until announced otherwise.
🚨 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🚨
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) December 10, 2021
➡ Wissa and Jensen start against Watford
⬅ Pinnock and Canos miss out
Teams presented by @BlueJeansNet #BrentfordFC #BREWAT pic.twitter.com/VR33QLvXrT
Watford team news, injuries, lineup options
The Hornets are also in a bad place with absences, with Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas N’Koulou, Kwadwo Baah, Adam Masina, Peter Etebo, and Ben Foster out and Ken Sema and Francisco Sierralta in question.
🚨 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 🚨
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) December 10, 2021
Ranieri makes three changes for tonight's clash with Brentford!#BREWAT pic.twitter.com/OKBy7G81Ws
Odds and ends (full odds provided by our partner, PointsBet)
Brentford is the favorite at +108 for a win with +235 coming for a draw, while Watford’s collection of three points pays out +250.
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Prediction
Two teams with plenty of injuries, plenty of flair, plenty of graft, and plenty inconsistency means predicting this one seems all sorts of nuts, but we’ll go for the home team. Brentford has been better than Watford this season, and unlucky to boot. Brentford 2-1 Watford.
How to watch Brentford vs Watford live, stream and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET, FridayTV Channel: NBCSNOnline: Stream via NBCSports.com
