Watford Without Emmanuel Dennis for Southampton Clash

Watford Without Suspended Emmanuel Dennis Against Southampton

Mixed Start for New Boss Claudio Ranieri

Claudio Ranieri’s first match in the charge of Watford saw the Hornets fall to a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. Doubts about whether the Hornets would have enough to competitively stand a chance at avoiding relegation were seriously raised. However, the magnitude of the concerns lessened this past weekend, as Watford stormed back from being 2-1 down to Everton with less than 15 minutes left to emerging 5-2 victors. Watford became the first team in Premier League history to win a match by at least three goals after trailing with 15 minutes left.

Watford is the first team in Premier League history to trail after 75 minutes and still win the game by at least 3 goals (h/t @StatsBySTATS).

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 23, 2021

One of the key players to the turnaround was super substitute Emmanuel Dennis, who came on for Ismaila Sarr in the 64th minute after Richarlison’s go-ahead goal for Everton. Unfortunately for the Hornets, they will have to cope without the summer signing for their relegation six-pointer against Southampton on Saturday.

Key Impact Against Everton

The decision to bring Dennis on for Watford’s best player was more than questionable at the time. However, doing so proved to be a tactical masterclass from Claudio Ranieri. Dennis assisted Watford’s third and fourth goals, in addition to scoring the fifth and sending Seamus Coleman a few yards across the box in doing so with a slick bit of footwork.

Dennis has the most goal contributions out of any Watford player this season – six – three goals and three assists. The one blemish to Dennis’s outstanding performance to give Watford their first-ever win at Goodison Park was his challenge on Richarlison in the 70th minute, which warranted the 23-year-old his fifth yellow card of the season. Thus, he has picked up a one-match suspension.

Watford Have Plenty of Options to Replace Emmanuel Dennis

Even though being without Dennis for the clash against the Saints is a blow, that is not to say the Hornets will not be able to cope without him. In the last match, he did not even start. And, considering Cucho Hernandez is starting to find form, Joshua King has gotten his Watford scoring account underway with a hat-trick, Joao Pedro has returned from injury and performed well when he came on at the same time as Dennis, and Sarr, well, being Sarr, the Hornets have no shortage of attacking options.

Still, Dennis will be missed, whether it be his impact as a starter or as a substitute. He will be back in contention to play against Arsenal on November 7.