Skipper Vincent Kompany makes his first Premier League start for more than six weeks, while Riyad Mahrez returns for the Blues, as does David Silva, Kyle Walker, Fabian Delph and John Stones.
Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi, Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte and Raheem Sterling all drop to the bench while Oleksandr Zinchenko is rested.
READ: Watford v City: Talking Points
READ: Watford v City: Injury news
Sergio Aguero is unavailable with a continuing muscle injury, so Gabriel Jesus will once again lead the line.
Team
Ederson, Walker, Stones, Kompany (c), Delph, Fernandinho, Bernardo, D Silva, Mahrez, Sane, Jesus
Subs: Muric, Laporte, Otamendi, Foden, Gundogan, Sterling, Danilo
Possible formation:
Expect the Blues to go 4-3-3 with Sane on the left wing, Mahrez on the right and Jesus through the middle.
Fernandinho, Bernardo and David Silva are the midfield trio with Kompany partnering Stones at the heart of the defence, flanked by full-backs by Walker and Delph.
Watford XI:
🔢 | Javi Gracia has made 3️⃣ changes to his #watfordfc line-up for tonight’s @mancity game.
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) December 4, 2018
➡️ Chalobah, Kabasele, Deeney
⬅️ Capoue (suspended), Mariappa, Deulofeu
Kick-off is in one hour 🕗#WATMCI pic.twitter.com/ilizattXUc
Blues again look to crank up pressure
City again play 24 hours before our nearest Premier League title challengers.
On Sunday, Spurs lost ground with a 4-2 defeat at Arsenal, while Liverpool needed a bizarre last-minute winner to edge past Everton.
Three points at Vicarage Road would once again open a five -point gap at the top, with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs all in action on Wednesday evening.
Nine on the bounce?
The Blues have enjoyed recent meetings with Watford and have won the last eight meetings.
In fact, it’s 28 years since City were last beaten by the Hornets, and the past two trips to Vicarage Road have ended in 5-0 and 6-0 wins respectively.
The hosts started the campaign impressively, and it is only in recent weeks they have faltered, somewhat.
Their three home losses have been against Manchester United (1-2), Bournemouth (0-4) and Liverpool (0-3).
They have been a tad unfortunate in one or two games and just three more points could have seen them come into this game in sixth instead of tenth.
Milestones, stats...
Watford won their first four games of the campaign - but have won just two of their last 10.
The Blues have won six Premier League games in a row and are unbeaten in 20 League games.
A clean sheet this evening would mean City had racked up five in a row, breaking a Club record of four in succession set back in 1903!
Should Nicolas Otamendi play any part of tonight’s game, he his 100th Premier League appearance for the Blues.
