QPR vs Watford Preview
- Tournament: EFL Championship 2024-25
- Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
- Time: 12:30 pm GMT
- Venue: Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers will host Watford in the EFL Championship in their first game of the year on Wednesday, January 1. The two sides are on the contrasting ends of the table and will be keen to get all three points.
QPR are currently 17th in the table, six points above the bottom three. They have won five, drawn 10 and lost eight of their 23 league games so far this season. Watford, meanwhile, are sixth in the table, seven points behind fourth-placed Sunderland with a game in hand. They have won 11, drawn four and lost seven of their 22 league games.
A win could be crucial for either team as Watford could go into fifth place while QPR could get into mid-table. Notably, QPR will face Norwich City on Sunday while Watford will face Cardiff City and hence, the team news and table positions could change by then.
QPR Team News
QPR will be without Karamoko Dembele, Paul Smyth, Steve Cook and Zan Celar. While Celar and Smyth are expected to return next month, Dembele and Cook are out until at least late February.
Also Read: Norwich City vs QPR Prediction, Preview, Team News and Lineups | EFL Championship, December 29, 2024
Watford Team News
Watford will be without Kevin Keben and Tom Dele-Bashiru for the clash against QPR due to their respective injuries.
Predicted Lineups
QPR predicted lineup (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Paul Nardi
Defenders: Jimmy Dunne, Steve Cook, Liam Morrison, Kenneth Paal
Midfielders: Sam Field, Jonathan Varane, Kieran Morgan
Attackers: Lucas Andersen, Rayan Kolli, Koki Saito
Watford predicted lineup (4-1-4-1):
Goalkeeper: Daniel Bachmann
Defenders: Yasser Larouci, Matthew Pollock, Ryan Porteous, Jeremy Ngakia
Midfielders: Pierre Dwomoh, Giorgi Chakvetadze, Moussa Sissoko
Attackers: Rocco Vata, Vakoun Issouf Bayo, Kwadwo Baah
QPR vs Watford H2H Record
In their previous 14 meetings across competitions, QPR have won six times, Watford have won five times while three matches ended in a draw.
Last 5 results:
| Watford 0-0 QPR | Championship | November 30, 2024 |
| QPR 1-2 Watford | Championship | January 14, 2024 |
| Watford 4-0 QPR | Championship | August 5, 2023 |
| QPR 1-0 Watford | Championship | March 11, 2023 |
| Watford 2-3 QPR | Championship | August 27, 2022 |
Key Players to watch in QPR vs Watford
Rayan Kolli
Rayan Kolli came through QPR’s academy and has impressed in his brief time in senior football so far. Despite being only 19, he is the joint top-scorer for the side in the Championship this season with three goals. He’s tied with Jimmy Dunne and Michael Frey at the top.
Kolli has recorded three goals and two assists in just nine games this season and will be keen to continue his run against Watford. He also scored in their 2-1 win against Preston North End but then drew a blank against Swansea.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo
The Ivory Coast international joined Watford from Belgian side R Charleroi SC in 2022 but spent multiple spells out on loan at different clubs. He then joined Udinese in the summer of 2024 but is set for this season on loan at Watford.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo has been brilliant this season and is the Hornets’ top scorer with nine goals in 21 games across competitions. Only two players have scored more goals than him in the league, highlighting his brilliant form.
Bayo scored twice in Watford’s 2-1 win over West Brom last week but drew a blank against Burnley and Portsmouth. He will be keen to get back to scoring ways on New Year’s Day.
QPR vs Watford Prediction
QPR have been in decent form recently, having lost just once in their last eight games across competitions. They have four wins and three draws in that spell. That defeat, however, came in their last match itself. After beating Preston North End 1-0, they lost 3-0 against Swansea City away from home.
Watford, meanwhile, also have just one defeat in their last eight games with four wins and three draws. They beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1, lost 2-1 against Burnley,and then beat Portsmouth 2-1.
Both sides have evidently been in similar form but find themselves at different ends of the table. As aforementioned, they have fixtures on Sunday before facing each which could change things. However, considering their form and injuries, this should end in a draw.
Predicted Score: QPR 2-2 Watford
Where to watch QPR vs Watford Live?
| Country | Where to Watch |
| USA | NBC Sports |
| UK | Sky Sports |
| India | FanCode |
FAQs
Q. When is QPR vs Watford?
A. It’s on Wednesday (January 1) at 12:30 pm GMT at Loftus Road
Q. Where to watch QPR vs Watford for free?
A. Soccerstreams, Footybite, etc.
Q. What is the predicted score for QPR vs Watford?
A. The predicted score is QPR 2-2 Watford
Q. What is the head-to-head record for QPR vs Watford?
A. In their previous 14 meetings across competitions, QPR have won six times, Watford have won five times while three matches ended in a draw.