Manchester City v Watford

Goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri gave Manchester City a ninth straight win last weekend

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony is sidelined by a gashed leg, although he is expected to return after the international break.

Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Fernando are ruled out, but Nicolas Otamendi is available for his debut.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores is likely to recall a host of senior players after making 11 changes for the midweek defeat by Preston.

Joel Ekstrand remains injured, while Miguel Britos is again suspended.

Britos begins a three-game ban following a red card on his debut on Tuesday. The Uruguayan had only just completed another three-match suspension, carried over from his time with previous club Napoli.

MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES

Alistair Mann: "There seems no logical reason why this match should be anything other than a routine home win – doubtless the word "complacency" will be uttered around the Etihad Stadium in order to guarantee the home side's focus is unwavering.

"However, it was this time last season when Manchester City first came unstuck in the defence of their title, losing unexpectedly at home to Stoke.

"Home draws against Burnley and Hull demonstrated last term that their glittering array of talent can be susceptible to a drop in intensity against so called "lesser" opposition.

"Like City, Watford are unbeaten and, having secured an excellent draw at Everton on the opening day, they appear to have sufficient stoicism to be competitive."

Twitter: @alistairmann01

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores: "There are lot of players in our squad who don't know if they are going to stay or going to move out."

"For me it's not comfortable. I hope everything will be solved this week.

"The players we can keep, we keep finally with us; players that have to come, they come, and the players that have to go, they go to good teams.

"I'm not happy – it's not a good moment for me."

LAWRO’S PREDICTION

I am a fan of Watford boss Quique Flores but it is asking a lot for his team to get a fourth draw of the season against Manchester City.

Lawro v Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Darren Campbell

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last seven league and cup games against Watford (W5, D2).
• City claimed home wins against Watford in the FA Cup in 2013 and 2014, winning 3-0 and 4-2 respectively – coming back from 2-0 down in the latter game.
• Watford's last win against City was by 1-0 at Vicarage Road in a Division Two match in March 1989.
• The last time the Hornets beat City in a top-flight match was in April 1987, when Worrell Sterling and David Bardsley scored in a 2-1 victory at Maine Road.

Manchester City

• City are chasing a club record 10th consecutive top-flight win, having equalled the current record – set in 1912.
• Sergio Aguero has scored in each of his last five Premier League home appearances, netting seven times in total.
• Manuel Pellegrini's side have won 14 and lost just one of their last 18 Premier League home games, winning the last eight.
• They are unbeaten in their last 24 Premier League games against newly-promoted opposition (W22, D2), with their last defeat coming against Reading in February 2007.

Watford

• The Hornets are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games, keeping clean sheets in the previous two.
• The last time they kept three successive clean sheets in the top flight was in October-November 2006.
• They have won just three of their 39 Premier League away matches (D7, L29).
• Watford could become the fourth team to draw their opening four Premier League matches (after Sunderland and Stoke in 2012-13 and Crystal Palace in 1992-93).