Watford v West Ham: Mid-table freedom leads to goal-happy encounter

They’ve each flirted briefly with relegation this season, but with as the 2016-17 campaign enters it’s final stretch, both Watford and West Ham look safe for another year. And that means we could be in for an entertaining affair at Vicarage Road.

Walter Mazzarri’s men are 7/5 favourites in this Saturday night clash, but plenty will find value in Slaven Bilic’s West Ham at 19/10.

After a dismal start to the season, the Irons have been trotting along very nicely, and have picked up just five points fewer than Manchester City across the last 19 games.

The Hammers appear galvanized since Dimitri Payet wanted out, and their only defeats in 2017 have come against the money-rich duo from Manchester.

There are still lapses – the 4-0 hammering by the Citizens was notably poor – but with six wins from 10, West Ham are in much better form than their hosts.

Watford have won just twice in that spell, though the 2-1 victory at Arsenal both highlighted both their potential and their inconsistency in equal measure.

But what we do see in Hornets games is goals.

Only three sides have seen both teams score in more games than Watford this season, and it’s 8/11 that each goalkeeper is beaten again here.

And both teams sit in the top-half when it comes to goals per game. The Hammers are averaging over three goals in their fixtures, with Watford right behind on 2.8.

So then, over 2.5 goals should be backed with confidence at 10/11, while backing over 3.5 at 12/5 should be considered too – especially since the pair played out a 4-2 cracker at the London Stadium in September.

Watford claimed the points that day, but West Ham are vastly improved five months on, and they’re scoring plenty too.

The Hammers hit four against Swansea, while Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Sunderland all had three put past them.

He may have lost Payet, but Bilic has been revelling since Andy Carroll came back from injury. The Geordie hitman has four goals in his last four appearances, and is 5/1 favourite to net first.

Troy Deeney is another striker in form, and the Watford number nine is 6/1 to bag the opener having found the net in three of his last four.

And for those who can’t resist a player scoring against his former club, Mauro Zarate is your man.

Watford signed the skilful winger from Fiorentina in January, and the 29-year-old is 13/2 to open the scoring against the Hammers, where he spent two seasons.

And ahead of the game, we’re offering a range of price boosts, including Andy Carroll to score and West Ham to win at 4/1 while we’re 7/2 that a penalty is awarded at any time.

Click here for all our Watford versus West Ham odds and offers.

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