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May 1, 2017 at 8pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Watford 0-1 Liverpool - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Watford in the Premier League.
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Liverpool have strengthened their stranglehold of third place in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Watford.

The only goal of the game came through Emre Can, who netted one of the goals of the season as he found the top corner with an overhead kick from 16 yards out.

Liverpool were full value for their win, but Watford almost snatched a point in the final seconds of the game when Sebastian Prodl's volley struck the crossbar.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Vicarage Road.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Watford and Liverpool.

When Liverpool's trip to Vicarage Road was rearranged for a Monday night, they faced the possibility of dropping outside of the top four with both Manchester clubs having winnable games against the teams in the relegation zone. However, after the fixtures with Middlesbrough and Swansea City both ended in draws, Liverpool now have the chance to take advantage. Regardless of whether they win or lose tonight, they will still have plenty of work to do in order to seal a spot in the Champions League but success would give them a huge lift ahead of their closing three matches.

As for Watford, results at the weekend have left them in 13th place but such is the level in mid-table that they will move up to ninth place if they triumph this evening. Much is being made of Walter Mazzarri's future but end the season in the top half of the standings and he could be grated the opportunity to remain with the Hornets next season.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the two teams...

WATFORD XI: Gomes; Mariappa, Prodl, Britos; Janmaat, Cleverley, Doucoure, Capoue, Amrabat; Deeney, Niang

WATFORD SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Kabasele, Eleftheriou, Zuniga, Behrami, Success, Okaka

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner; Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum; Coutinho, Firmino, Origi

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Lallana, Sturridge, Klavan, Alexander-Arnold

Despite their defeat last time out, Mazzarri has decided to make just the one alteration to his Watford starting lineup with Adrian Mariappa coming into the defence in place of Jose Holebas, who has been ruled out through injury.

As for Liverpool, the big news comes on the bench as both Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge make their returns after injury. The pair will be short of match fitness but it is a big boost to Klopp, who has been forced to name a number of inexperienced replacements recently.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's fixture represents just the 28th meeting between the two clubs, with Liverpool winning 19 matches compared to just five for Watford. Since the turn of the Millennium, they have locked horns on eight occasions with Liverpool winning seven of them. Their one defeat came on their last visit to Vicarage Road as Watford ran out 3-0 victors. It remains Klopp's biggest setback since arriving at Anfield.

The reverse fixture at Anfield came back in November, and it is fair to say that it was one-way traffic. Liverpool won the game 6-1 and in all fairness, it could have been a lot more. There was a ruthlessness about the Reds which they haven't shown of late, and it is something they need to recapture in these closing stages of the season. It would come as a huge disappointment if they did not remain in a Champions League spot and everyone associated with the club is aware that this is probably their biggest game of the campaign now.

Up until more recently, Watford hadn't shown many signs of improvement from last season under Quique Sanchez Flores but three wins in a row has given the Hornets hope of a top-10 finish. It remains to be seen whether that would be enough to keep Mazzarri in a job but it shows the level in which Watford are reaching. They were considered relegation certainties when gaining promotion to the top flight but for the second season running, they have never been a factor in the fight for survival.

Given his return to the bench, we should probably discuss the potential impact of the return of Adam Lallana, who hasn't been seen in a Liverpool shirt since the middle of March. With Sadio Mane also out of the team, his absence has been felt and if he gets on the pitch in the second half, Klopp will have high hopes of him adding to the seven goals and seven assists which he has also contributed this season.

PREDICTION! As we have seen over the weekend, the pressure and fatigue is starting to get to some teams and we expect the same to happen to Liverpool tonight. The door has been left ajar but it will almost feel more testing to go through it. Watford have shown they are very capable in front of their own fans and we are backing them to claim a 2-1 win.

It is time for the two teams to make their way out at Vicarage Road. The pressure is all on Liverpool and the Watford fans look intent on enjoying this Bank Holiday Monday offering. We will be underway very shortly.

Watford get us underway.

It has been a sharp start from both sides but it is Liverpool who show the more intent in the final third with Origi's turn winning a free kick. It was lofted into Can but his header was never going to trouble Gomes.

Moments later, Coutinho picked up a knock with a similar turn and he has been forced to undergo some treatment. While off the pitch, Watford came forward with Niang shooting tamely at Mignolet.

Coutinho is really struggling, here. He is being given every chance to run it off but I would be surprised to see him continue. Adam Lallana is limbering up.

Liverpool seem to be biding their time until they can introduce Lallana. This is a big blow for Klopp's side, but at least they are able to call upon one of their players of the season. Coutinho's injury looks like a dead leg. He is running but with a limp.

SUBSTITUTION! Here comes Lallana, with Coutinho hobbling off.

We have reached the quarter-hour mark and while this game is still to get going, both teams look ready to push forward every time they have the ball. I would be surprised to see this one end goalless.

SUBSTITUTION! Now Watford have to make a change! Britos is the man who has picked up an injury and Christian Kabasele is coming on in his place.

SHOT! With the attacking players on show, you wouldn't expect Can to be posing Liverpool's biggest threat in this match but that is how it is right now. The German midfielder just let fly from distance with Gomes being forced to dive to his left to parry the ball away from goal.

Liverpool are starting to get on top in this game. Since Can's effort, they have only had a couple of shots blocked but they are building momentum and Watford are struggling to get past the halfway line.

It wouldn't be Klopp's preference to play both Lucas and Can in the centre of the park but they are doing a very effective job of controlling the pace of the game. Can also has something to offer a little bit further forward, rather than being required to play in front of the back four. Vicarage Road is a bit quiet right now.

It has to be said, we have not seen much of Firmino at all. Klopp will expect him to take on more responsibility in Coutinho's absence but he has barely had a kick. Origi and Lallana are linking up well without the Brazilian.

Still not much else to report. Watford have had a few pot shots which have been blocked but aside from that, it is all very lacklustre. As it stands, it is inevitable that we are going to see Sturridge on the pitch at some stage. Liverpool need something different.

It is the same kind of problems for Liverpool which they have encountered at various stages of the season. Watford are packing the defence and Liverpool just don't look likely to break it down.

WOODWORK! Wow! Lallana has nearly just scored one of the goals of the season. The ball was cleared to him around 25 yards out but his first-time volley struck the underside of the crossbar with Gomes beaten. It's so unlucky!

BOOKING! This is a disgraceful dive from Lucas. Even worse than Marcus Rashford. He tries to fool the referee by trying to make contact with Cleverley's boot but he goes down without any contact whatsoever.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

GOAL! Watford 0-1 Liverpool (Can)

The goal of the season competition has a new entry. This is absolutely outrageous from Can. Lucas's lofted ball into the penalty area found him around 16 yards from goal before he produced a stunning overhead kick into the top corner. Gomes had no chance. What a goal.

HALF TIME: Watford 0-1 Liverpool

The half-time whistle goes at Vicarage Road and I don't think anyone knows how to digest that goal from Can. Honestly, it is on the same level as Olivier Giroud's scorpion kick. More importantly, it has given Liverpool an important lead at the break.

Liverpool get us back underway.

BOOKING! The first Watford man to go into the book is Prodl, who clumsily takes out Firmino on the edge of the penalty area.

SHOT! It comes as no surprise that Milner decides to take the shot on but his set piece is far too close to Gomes, who punches the ball clear.

SHOT! This effort from Origi initially looks ambitious but Gomes isn't on his line and he has to get down to his left to prevent the shot finding the bottom corner from 25 yards. This is much better from Liverpool.

While Liverpool are now in control of the pace of this game, you can't help but think that they require a second. Watford are yet to pose much of a threat but they have players in their side who can produce something special.

SHOT! Another chance for Liverpool. A ball over the top finds the run of Origi but despite getting in behind the defence, he fired too close to Gomes from around 14 yards.

We are encountering a bit of a lull in the action but Liverpool remain on top. A second goal would surely finish Watford off at this stage of the game, although the Hornets do have options on the bench.

It is worth remembering that Liverpool have only kept one clean sheet since February 11, so almost three months. Watford may be poor right now but they will take belief that they can still get back into this game.

SHOT! Better from Watford as Capoue shoots on goal from 25 yards and Mignolet does brilliantly to tip the ball over. However, the referee awards a goal kick and books Capoue for his protests!

SUBSTITUTION! Mazzarri makes his second change with Isaac Success being introduced for Capoue.

CHANCE! This was the moment where Liverpool should have doubled their advantage. A rapid counter-attack led to Can passing the ball through to Lallana, but he couldn't control the ball around 20 yards from goal and the opportunity was gone.

We have less than 10 minutes to go at Vicarage Road and we remain at 1-0. Liverpool should have probably put this game to bed by now but Watford know there is a weakness at the back and they are looking to exploit it.

SHOT! This would have gone down as a goalkeeping error had it gone in. Janmaat tries to catch Mignolet out from 35 yards and the Belgian stopper has to be alert to claw the ball out.

SUBSTITUTION! On comes Daniel Sturridge for a rare appearance for Liverpool, with Origi going off. Watford have also acted, with Stefano Okaka replacing Amrabat.

SUBSTITUTION! Smart decision from Klopp, who withdraws Lallana after playing more than he would have expected. Ragnar Klavan is on in his place.

CHANCE! Gomes keeps Watford in it with a stunning stop from Sturridge, who would have thought he had scored with a low effort towards the corner. There are going to be four minutes of added-on time.

WOODWORK! Watford hit the crossbar! Unbelievable stuff. The ball fell for Prodl inside the penalty area but he lashed his volley against the woodwork.

FULL TIME: Watford 0-1 Liverpool

The full-time whistle goes at Vicarage Road and Liverpool have just about held on to an important win in their quest to finish in the top four of the Premier League table. Can's first-half stunner did the damage and they have taken advantage of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal all failing to win yesterday.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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