Aston Villa will be keen to scale even greater heights this season and a trip to Watford could allow an easy road towards doing exactly that. Dean Smith’s rock-solid defence will be on hand to shut down attacking threats as per usual but with Jack Grealish gone, Leon Bailey isolating, Douglas Luiz not back from Olympic duty and Emi Buendía and Ollie Watkins doubtful, Villa look more than a little threadbare across the rest of the pitch. The evergreen but non-threatening Ashley Young’s presence on the wing says it all regarding what might prove a sluggish start at Vicarage Road. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue Vicarage Road
Last season n/a
Referee Mike Dean
Last season G25 Y91 R8 3.96 cards/game
Odds H 12-5 A 7-5 D 12-5
WATFORD
Subs from Foster, Elliot, Ngakia, Deeney, Masina, Sema, Gosling, Fletcher, Gray, Hughes, Quina, Success, Kabasele, Sierralta, Pollock, Kucka, Baah, Hungbo, Perica
Doubtful None
Injured Chalobah (ill, 21 Aug), King (groin, 21 Aug), João Pedro (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y81 R2 (last season)
Leading scorer Sarr 13 (last season)
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Steer, Davis, Chrisene, Wesley, Philogene-Bidace, Chukwuemeka, Tuanzebe, Watkins, Hourihane, Traoré, El Ghazi, Guilbert, Hause
Doubtful Buendía (hip), Watkins (knee)
Injured Bailey (self-isolation, 21 Aug), Douglas Luiz (Olympics leave, unknown), Sanson (knee, unknown), Trezeguet (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y67 R4 (last season)
Leading scorer Watkins 14 (last season)
