This is easily Saints’ most important game so far this season.

Nothing less than a win will suffice after the debacle that occurred at Manchester City last weekend.

Mark Hughes’ side must somehow find a way to end their wretched form at St Mary’s and head into the international break three points better off.

The way Watford started the season was both surprising and spectacular.

Four Premier League wins in a row has been followed by two victories in their least seven which shows they are there for the taking on Saturday.

The Hornets come across as a team who will either win 4-0 or lose 4-0.

Saints have been struggling for goals all season, so it’s unlikely they’ll bag four of them, however, one will be enough for the St Mary’s crowd as long as it results in three points.

Watford got the better of Southampton in the reverse fixture last season, winning 2-0 on the south coast and hey will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Newcastle last weekend.

With Huddersfield beating Fulham on Monday night, Saints need to respond with a victory of their own to ease the pressure at the bottom of the table.

Saints’ Premier League H2H record against Watford:

P6 W2 D3 L1

Watford’s form this season:

P11 W6 D1 L4 (8th in the league, 19pts)

Who has been the opposition’s key player this campaign?

Roberto Pereyra has been on fire for Watford.

It comes as no surprise that he has been linked with a move to Chelsea in the national papers after scoring two goals in his last three games which included his fine solo effort against Huddersfield.

The Argentinian has found the back of the net five times in total and proved to be instrumental in Watford’s electric start.

Pereyra joined the Hertfordshire side for £11.2m in the summer of 2016 when they signed him from Italian giants Juventus.

Daily Echo:

Watford's Roberto Pereyra

Their likely line up?

Foster, Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Doucoure, Chalobah, Hughes, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Isaac.

A closer look at Javi Gracia:

The Spaniard took over at Watford in January after they dismissed former boss Marco Silva.

Since his arrival at the beginning of the year, Gracia has taken charge of 28 games. He has won 11 of them, drawn five and lost 12, with an overall win percentage of 39.3%.

Gracia was formerly a player and had his longest spell at Real Sociedad before he switched to fellow Spanish side Villarreal.

He has spent most of his managerial career in his native Spain but spent a year in Russia with Rubin Kazan before joining Watford.

Daily Echo:

Javi Gracia