Manchester United will go top for at least a couple of hours if they beat Watford, but they could be weighed down by problems in attack. Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini are injured, while Louis van Gaal says that James Wilson is not ready to play 90 minutes, and United’s list of absentees will boost Watford’s hopes of pulling off a famous win. United’s defence will not relish the task of containing Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo. Jacob Steinberg

Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm

Venue Vicarage Road

Last season n/a

Live BT Sport 1

Referee R Madley

This season G11, Y41, R3, 4.0 cards per game

Odds H 4-1 A 10-11 D 5-2

Watford

Subs from Arlauskis, Holebas, Belkalem, Abdi, Behrami, Berghuis, Paredes, Guedioura, Ibarbo, Diamanti, Dyer, Oularé, Gilmartin

Doubtful Nyom (knee), Ighalo (late international return)

Injured Prödl (calf, 12 Dec), Hoban (groin, 20 Dec), Ekstrand (knee, Jan)

Suspended None

Form LWWLDL

Discipline Y20 R1

Leading scorer Ighalo 7

Manchester United

Subs from Romero, Johnstone, Pereira, McNair, Blind, Darmian, Borthwick-Jackson

Doubtful Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger (focus)

Injured Martial (ankle), Rooney (ill, both 25 Nov), Carrick (ankle), Fellaini (calf, both 28 Nov), McNair (liver, 5 Dec), Shaw (leg), Valencia (ankle, both Apr)

Suspended None

Form WDDWLW

Discipline Y20 R0

Leading scorer Mata 4