Manchester City vs Watford Prediction & Betting Tips - Carabao Cup

Prediction published on 22/09/2024, 13:45  by Steve Ashfield in Carabao Cup Predictions

Manchester City host Championship side Watford in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Can the Hornets get a shock win at the Premier League champions?  Find out our views in our match prediction.

The home side needed a late goal to draw 2-2 at home with Arsenal on Sunday. The Citizens will make plenty of changes for this game but still have a squad that is more than strong enough to defeat their opponents.

City lost at this stage of the Carabao Cup last season. They have had great success in this competition though and won it four seasons in a row between 2017-18 and 2020-21. This is their first match in this season's competition.

That late goal against Arsenal meant City are unbeaten in their seven games played this season. In the Carabao Cup, they have only lost once at home since 2014. That was a home loss to Manchester United in January 2020.

They have won their last 15 games against Watford, last losing to them in 2007. It's 37 years since they lost a home fixture against Watford.  The last five games have been won by an astonishing aggregate score of 26-2. 

Watford last reached the fourth round of this competition in the 2019-20 season. They face an almighty task to get that far in the Carabao Cup this season.

The Hornets are eighth in the Championship and only a point behind the final promotion play-off position. The weekend saw them lose 4-1 at Norwich City making it just one point from their last three games.

MK Dons and Plymouth have been beaten by them in this season's Carabao Cup, both won to nil at home. This is so much tougher and we tip City to win and lead at half and full time.