Player Focus: Impressive Ighalo Helping Raise Expectations at Vicarage Road

When Watford were promoted to the Premier League, they were one of the favourites to drop straight back down into the Championship. A mass turnover of personnel could have undermined Quique Sanchez Flores in his debut campaign at the Vicarage Road helm, yet the Hornets are excelling upon their return to England’s top tier. 

A 1-0 win over Sunderland last weekend put them seventh in the Premier League, just four points off Manchester United in fourth. Three consecutive league wins have seen expectations rise at Vicarage Road, with many now of the opinion that avoiding relegation should be considered the bare minimum. Spearheading their charge up the table is the impressive Odion Ighalo. After a modest start to life in the Premier League, the Nigeria international has begun to rediscover his best form. 

Only Jamie Vardy (15), Romelu Lukaku (12) and Riyad Mahrez (11) have scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Ighalo (10), five of which have come in his last six league outings. The 26-year-old has scored a greater proportion of his side’s goals (55.6%) than any other player in England’s top tier this term, with his WhoScored rating (7.35) better than any other Watford player. 

Moreover, only Mahrez (8) has won more WhoScored man of the match awards than Ighalo (5) in the Premier League this campaign. As far as debut seasons in the top-flight of English football go, the Hornets star is enjoying as prolific a start to life in the Premier League as one could hope for. His partnership with captain Troy Deeney is one of the major reasons for the Hornets’ commendable start to the season. 

The duo struck up an immediate understanding upon Ighalo’s permanent arrival from Udinese and they have maintained their superb form together in England’s top division. All four of Deeney’s assists have been for an Ighalo league goal. The latter’s pace and ability to get in behind the opposition defence is a blessing for Deeney, who drops deeper to help link up with the midfield. 

While not presented with the chance to score as frequently, the creative side of Deeney’s game is maximised. No Watford player is averaging more key passes per game than the 27-year-old (1.6). Meanwhile, Ighalo is averaging more shots per game (3.4) than any other Hornets player, that figure the sixth highest in the Premier League this season. 

The Nigerian’s searing pace means he is a handful for any opposition defence on his day, with teams becoming increasingly wary of the threat he carries. Not only is he capable of getting into decent goalscoring positions for Watford, but he’s clearly consistent when played in front of goal. Only Jamie Vardy (28) has had more shots on target than Ighalo (27) in the Premier League this season. The regularity with which he tests the opposition goalkeeper helped quickly endear him to the supporters and has deservedly won him numerous plaudits. 

But it’s not just tame efforts on goal, either. Of the 53 shots Ighalo has had on target in 2015, 26 have hit the back of the net. He’s scored more league goals than any other player in England's top four divisions this calendar year and he’s showed no signs of slowing any time soon. With no African Cup of Nations to occupy the striker in the New Year either, Watford fans can rest assured that Ighalo is hitting form just as the hectic festive period approaches. 

Many may have tipped the Hornets to struggle upon their return to England’s top flight, but they’ve readjusted to the rigours of Premier League football with ease. Along with Vardy and Mahrez, Ighalo has been one of the early success stories of the season. Given his performances of late, one would not bet against the striker prolonging this form through December and into 2016, starting with Watford’s welcome of Liverpool on Sunday.

The Reds will be without Dejan Lovren through injury and while Mamadou Sakho could return Ighalo would hope to exploit any lack of match sharpness. With Liverpool conceding 8 goals in their last 6 away matches in the league, while Watford's top scorer has scored 3 in his last 3 at Vicerage Road. In this week's match market at Buabook, I'll be buying shares if available around the £0.50 mark, tipping Ighalo to ensure that Liverpool fail to keep a clean sheet for the seventh time in their last 8 league matches under Klopp.

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