A clash that represents the start of a new era for one club and potentially the end of a short-lived one for the other. Indeed, David Moyes will take charge of West Ham for the first time this Sunday when they travel to Vicarage Road, while Watford may be preparing for their final game under summer appointment Marco Silva who is already being eyed by Everton. But which manager faces the biggest injury problems, how could the referee influence the match and what does history tell us about this fixture? Here's everything you need to know ahead of the 4pm kickoff...

What History Tells Us

The Hammers and the Hornets have met just eight times in the Premier League and their returns from those encounters are almost identical, with three wins and two draws apiece alongside just a single-goal difference in their aggregate scoring tallies. That being said, West Ham have beaten Watford  just once in their last six attempts, losing three of them, including an infamous capitulation last season that saw the Irons surrender a two-goal lead at the London Stadium as Dimitri Payet's tricks and turns inspired a comeback from the visitors. Still though, West Ham will be boosted by the fact Watford's win rate in this fixture at Vicarage Road is as low as theirs - just 25% each.

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Referee influence - Andre Marriner

Few Premier League referees let the game flow quite like Andre Marriner, to the extent that some might even deem the leniency he consistently shows poor refereeing. Indeed Marriner ranks bottom from the Premier League's 18 referees for fouls per game and fouls per tackle this season, alongside 14th for yellow cards. That style would appear to benefit Sunday's visitors more. Although Watford have committed more fouls this season, West Ham have the worst disciplinary record in the Premier League and Moyes will expect a full-blooded, industriousness performance from his players after their spate of apathetic and disorganised showings under Slaven Bilic. That being said, 75% of Marriner's matches this season have ended in home wins - suggesting he's often swayed into agreeing with the home crowd.

Team News

We've seen Watford use a number of different formations in the Premier League already this season but with two wide defenders in Jose Holebas and Kiko Femina who like to get forward, a 3-4-3 formation utilising both as wing-backs seems the likeliest scenario. The real danger man, though, is summer signing Richarlison. He's been a real force in the Premier League this season and is the Hornets' top scorer alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure. Silva is faced with a few key absences this weekend, however. Captain Troy Deeney has been ruled out through suspension, while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes and chief creator Roberto Pereyra could be sidelined as well.

West Ham remain an unknown quantity under David Moyes, who has not so subtly hinted he will make significant changes to their usual starting personnel. That being said, his hands are relatively tied defensively with a number of centre-backs potentially sidelined, which could see Chiekhou Kouyate drop into the defence alongside Angelo Ogbonna. With summer signing Javier Hernandez absent too, Andy Carroll looks set to lead the line and Moyes' style of football should appeal to the towering striker's natural strengths. Whether Marko Arnautovic has done enough to deserve a place in Moyes' plans remains to be seen - but once again, he could be forced into giving the Austrian international a chance with Michail Antonio fighting for fitness.

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