Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Watford and
Liverpool at Vicarage Road!
These two sides have both impressed so far in 2018-19 and sit firmly in the top half of the table, but Watford's form has slipped a little in recent weeks so it should be an intriguing contest today. Last season provided goals galore in these fixtures, so hopefully we're in for more of the same here!
Let's start with a look at the team news...
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Mariappa, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney
WATFORD SUBS: Gomes, Kabasele, Navarro, Chalobah, Quina, Gray, Success
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah; Firmino
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Clyne, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, Sturridge, Matip
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, we'll start with the visitors and interestingly Jurgen Klopp has stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation which has yielded Liverpool's best football so far this season, rather than the usual 4-3-3 system.
Klopp has hitherto tended to only go for this formation in home games, but he is willing to take the risk today which means that there is a place for Xherdan Shaqiri in the starting lineup once again after he scored last time out.
Captain
Jordan Henderson returns to the side after overcoming the hamstring issue which hampered him during the international break, and he will sit alongside Wijnaldum in that deeper-lying two as the likes of Milner, Fabinho and Keita all have to make do with a place on the bench.
In front of them, it is likely to be Firmino who operates in the number 10 role with Salah likely to be the main man through the middle, with Shaqiri and Mane - the latter of whom has just signed a new contract at the club - providing the width.
Watford certainly won't be looking forward to coming up against Salah again after he scored four times in the most recent meeting between the two sides, and he has now been directly involved in six goals from just two Premier League games against Watford - only Luis Suarez against Cardiff has a better goal involvement per game ratio against an opponent in the competition's history.
Firmino also has a fine record against the Hornets, being directly involved in seven goals from his last five Premier League games against Watford - scoring four times and creating another three.
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It is in defence where Liverpool have been the most impressive this season, though, and they are forced into a change at the back today after Joe Gomez picked up a knock to his ankle in training.
It is not thought to be a serious problem, but it is enough to keep him out of this game as Dejan Lovren comes in to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold provide the width.
Watford are also forced into a defensive change due to a late injury, with Jose Holebas having picked up a calf problem which means that he is replaced by Masina in the starting lineup today.
That is one of three changes made by Javi Gracia, with Etienne Capoue and Troy Deeney also coming into the side as Chalobah and Success drop out.
Capoue is back available after serving a suspension, whereas Deeney is now fully fit once again and makes his first start since October 6 - despite admitting that he hates facing Van Dijk during a TV punditry gig earlier this season.
There is more good news on the injury front when it comes to Will Hughes too, as he has overcome the knock he picked up against Southampton last time out to start once again.
Janmaat, Cleverley and Prodl remain out for the hosts today, but there is a special occasion for Craig Cathcart, who makes his 100th Premier League appearance today.
He and Mariappa are likely to be tested today by that Liverpool attack, but they have been good so far this season and also provide a threat at the other end of the pitch from set pieces - an avenue Watford may look to exploit today.
Arguably Watford's star of the season so far has been Roberto Pereyra, though, and Liverpool will need to keep a close eye on the winger today in order to prevent him from adding to his five-goal haul.
Former Everton attacker Gerard Deulofeu is also likely to ask a few questions of the Liverpool defence, and the contrasting styles of those two and Deeney could pose a tricky test for the visitors today.
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Watford have certainly shown enough this season to suggest that they can come away with a positive result today, although
Javi Gracia will be wary of allowing his side's positive start to wane too much.
The results have certainly begun to tail off in recent weeks, with Watford beginning the season by winning their opening five games across all competitions, but winning just two of their nine since - including five defeats.
Watford had actually been keeping pace with Liverpool at the start of the season and delivered a statement of intent by beating Spurs in September, but it was after that result that things began to go downhill a little.
Even so, it has still been a very good start to the campaign from the Hornets and the fact that they are already halfway to the 40-point mark will be a big comfort for fans beginning to worry a little about their recent dip in form.
Indeed, Watford's 20-point tally is the most they have ever achieved after 12 games of a top-flight campaign, and a victory today would continue that record after 13 games too.
At the moment Watford's record tally after 13 matches is 21 points, which they achieved in 1982 and again last season, although Javi Gracia will be cautious considering what happened around this stage of the 2017-18 campaign.
The Hornets were only one place and two points worse off at the same stage of last season, but it was after gameweek 13 that things began rapidly going downhill, resulting in the sacking of Marco Silva and appointment of Javi Gracia.
Watford went through a spell of just one win in 12 Premier League games, taking them from European challengers to worrying about a relegation scrap, and Gracia will heed warning from his predecessor's fate ahead of a busy December schedule.
The board are clearly not expecting a similar downturn in results, though, and they have seemingly changed their cut-throat ways by offering Javi Gracia a contract extension - the first Watford boss to have one since Malky Mackay in 2011.
The deal is not yet signed, but it will be next week and a 30th win from his 47th game in charge would be the perfect way to celebrate the impending extension.
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Watford could move to within one point of the top four this afternoon and currently sit as far from the relegation zone as they are from leaders Manchester City, but they come into this match off the back of a couple of disappointing results before the international break.
The Hornets took only one point from two games against struggling duo Newcastle and Southampton, losing against the Magpies 1-0 before drawing 1-1 at St Mary's following back-to-back wins over Wolves and Huddersfield before that.
Today's match is the first home game for Watford in almost a month, and they have won five of their last seven Premier League outings in front of their own fans - including that 3-0 triumph over Huddersfield most recently.
However, it was only last month that Bournemouth ran out 4-0 winners here, and including today the next two visitors are Liverpool and Manchester City. Incidentally, Watford have lost 15 of their 17 Premier League games against teams beginning the day in the top two, with their only victories coming against Chelsea in September 1999 and Arsenal in January 2017.
Liverpool will not be expecting an easy ride of things today, though, and Watford's form at times this season suggests that they are capable of pulling off a surprise and ending Liverpool's unbeaten start.
The Reds go into the game as favourites regardless, and could even climb to the top of the table this afternoon should results elsewhere - namely in the West Ham vs. Man City game - go their way.
Two points separate Liverpool from Man City as things stand, while Chelsea are a further two points behind that to complete the unbeaten trio, which is quite remarkable after 12 games of a Premier League season.
There may be some frustration for Liverpool considering that this is the joint best-ever start they have made to a Premier League season - alongside the 2002-03 campaign - yet still they do not sit top of the table.
The challenge, of course, is to maintain that level throughout the entire campaign - particularly as Man City do not show many signs of slipping up - and a victory today would see Liverpool go 13 games without defeat at the start of a Premier League season for the first time since 2007-08.
On that occasion six of their opening 13 games ended in draws, though, whereas Klopp's side have dropped just six points in total this season - all against other teams in the top five too. Liverpool have a 100% record against teams outside the top five this term.
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Whereas last season they relied heavily on their front three, this term it has been the defence which has acted as the bedrock of their good form - bolstered hugely this year by Van Dijk and Alisson.
Indeed, Liverpool's tally of just five goals conceded is not only the joint-best in the league this season, but also the joint-best tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign in the club's illustrious history.
Liverpool have not conceded more than one goal in a game since their 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in April, shipping only six in total from the 15 Premier League matches since then.
Uncharacteristically, it is actually in attack that Liverpool need to start improving, with only Spurs having scored fewer in the top five and Manchester City already 13 goals better off than them. In such a close title race, goal difference could ultimately prove to be important - although we are a long way away from having to worry about that.
There was another clean sheet before the international break as Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 last time out, although it was not without its controversy as Salah's opener came just seconds after Fulham had had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside.
Liverpool's most recent Premier League away game came at the Emirates Stadium, meanwhile, when they played out a 1-1 draw with Arsenal prior to a 2-0 Champions League defeat against Red Star Belgrade.
Liverpool have only won one of their last five away games across all competitions, but they are unbeaten in their last six in the Premier League, winning four of those.
There is another big away match coming up in the Champions League on Wednesday as Liverpool take on PSG in Paris, and that precedes another huge game with the Reds hosting Everton in the Merseyside derby next Sunday.
Fans may have one eye on those two games, but Klopp knows that his side need to be fully focused on this one today.
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PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Vicarage Road, which means that it is time for a prediction!
This looks like being a tricky test for Liverpool, with Watford a somewhat unpredictable team, so the result could depend on which version of the home side turn up. There were goals galore last season, but we don't see that being the case again this time around.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Watford 0-1 Liverpool
One of Watford's most memorable results in recent years was a 3-0 victory over Liverpool in December 2015, but Liverpool have dominated this fixture since then.
The Reds have won four of the last five meetings, with the other ending as a draw, scoring 17 goals in the process at an average of more than three per game.
Eight of those goals came last season alone, with
Mohamed Salah the star of the show at Anfield with a four-goal haul, which Firmino added to to seal a 5-0 drubbing in March.
Liverpool's last visit to Vicarage Road produced even more goals, although this time they were shared as Miguel Britos scored a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser to seal a 3-3 draw on the opening day of last season.
Across all competitions Liverpool have won nine and lost just one of the last 11 meetings between these two sides, keeping seven clean sheets in the process.
Encouragingly, there has never been a goalless draw between these two sides in the top flight, and if last season is anything to go by we could see plenty fly in today too. Hopefully they can prove my prediction wrong!
Right, the players are out and we're almost ready to get going now! A quick recap of the team news first...
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Mariappa, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah; Firmino
KICKOFF: Here we go! Watford get us underway at Vicarage Road!
DISALLOWED GOAL! Watford have the ball in the back of the net inside two minutes as Deeney flicks the ball over for Deulofeu, who races through on goal and fires his finish past Alisson. The linesman's flag is up, but it was raised very late.
Correct decision, though!
This has been a positive start from Watford, who are looking to take the game to Liverpool early. They have been direct so far, and have already broken in behind the Liverpool defence once.
Some lovely football from Liverpool almost opens up the Watford defence and Shaqiri's clipped pass forward almost deflects into the path of Firmino. Foster is alert, though, and comes racing off his line to collect.
Another alert piece of goalkeeping from Foster as this time he comes off his line to collect a Robertson cross which looked destined for the head of Salah.
CHANCE! Big chance for Watford to strike as Alisson plays a risky pass to Firmino, who is dispossessed to leave three Watford players in on goal. The pass towards Deulofeu is heavy, though, and Robertson is able to dig his keeper out of trouble.
Liverpool's attackers keep Watford penned into their own third, but the hosts are eventually able to get out and an exquisite touch from Deeney sets up a break. The captain's eventual ambitious crossfield ball is cut out, but that was a good response from the hosts to some growing pressure.
Good spell of possession for Liverpool as they probe for a way through, but it is all coming in front of the Watford players at the moment.
UPDATE: Bad news for Liverpool fans - Manchester City have taken the lead against West Ham through David Silva. There has also been a goal between Brighton and Leicester, where the Seagulls have taken the lead through Glenn Murray.
Liverpool are just playing keep-ball at the moment, but Watford are refusing to get dragged out of their shape. Very disciplined from the hosts so far, and Liverpool are struggling to even get through their midfield, yet alone the defence.
UPDATE: Liverpool are struggling to get going here, but Man City are having no such trouble. They are now two up against West Ham, with Raheem Sterling adding the second. Things go from bad to worse for Fulham too - they have fallen behind to Southampton in Ranieri's first match at the helm.
Javi Gracia will be very happy with his side so far. They are carrying out his gameplan to a tee, keeping their shape before countering when they are able to pinch the ball back. It is the hosts who have had the two most notable moments so far.
There has been no room for Liverpool's attackers to work with so far. The visitors' most dangerous moments so far have come from crosses into the box.
CHANCE! Another cross provides Liverpool with their first opportunity of the game as Shaqiri clips a free kick into the area. Wijnaldum gets the wrong side of his marker and tries to hook a difficult first-time volley towards goal, but he can't get anything on it and Foster collects.
Concern over Femenia here as Foster comes clattering into him, and the defender needs treatment. All the concussion tests are carried out, but we'll have to wait and see whether he is able to continue.
He looks a bit groggy, but Femenia is back on.
Liverpool have had almost 70% possession so far this afternoon, but they have not been able to use it well. A lot of credit has to go to Watford for that, though. They are forcing the visitors to be patient.
UPDATE: Things are looking bleak for Leicester at Brighton! They are 1-0 down and now down to 10 men too as Maddison has been sent off, picking up his second yellow for diving inside the area.
We're half an hour into this match now and we're still yet to see a shot of any description. That tells you all you need to know about this one so far!
UPDATE: Fulham have their first goal of the Ranieri era! Mitrovic has levelled things up for the Cottagers against Southampton, while elsewhere Man City have added a third against West Ham as Sane gets in on the act. Another assist for Sterling too, who now has two and a goal of his own already today.
Liverpool have edged that possession up to more than 70% now, but it is still all coming in front of the Watford defence.
Liverpool come forward down the left flank this time and Robertson lifts a cross towards the back post, but he puts too much on it and the ball drops behind for a goal kick.
SAVE! We have a shot! It is a good one too as Firmino pounces on a loose pass before unleashing an early strike which Foster has to get down low to save.
CHANCE! Suddenly this match has burst into life! Watford go up the other end seconds later and Deulofeu plays the ball in to Pereyra, who fires a powerful effort towards goal which Alisson does really well to save! Big chance, and Pereyra probably should have scored!
CHANCE! One lightning Liverpool counter-attack is ended by some last-ditch defending, but the visitors are back on the front foot moments later as Mane collects a pass from Shaqiri before acrobatically getting a shot away which Foster needs to save.
CHANCE! Where has this flurry of chances come from?! From the resulting corner, Salah is left completely unmarked to ghost into the box, but Foster scrambles across to get to his downward header right on the line!
UPDATE: Is this the kickstart Fulham need? They have come from behind to lead Southampton through Andre Schurrle's goal!
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: WATFORD 0-0 LIVERPOOL
The first half comes to an end at Vicarage Road, then, and it took until the 39th minute for it to spark into life.
It was a pretty dire affair for the vast majority of that half, in truth, but the chances began to flow in the final six minutes and it bodes well for a much more entertaining second half!
The only moments of any real note prior to the 39th minute saw Watford have an early goal disallowed and Alisson escape without punishment for a risky pass out from defence, but it was in those closing stages that the majority of the highlights came.
The closest we have come to an opener was from Mo Salah, who ghosted into the box unmarked to get his head to a corner, only for Foster to scramble across and make a crucial stop on the line.
Foster has been the busier of the two keepers, also denying Firmino and Mane in the closing stages of that first half, but Alisson has also been called into action.
Watford's best chance fell the way of Pereyra just seconds after Firmino had registered the first shot of the game in the 39th minute, but Alisson reacted really well to turn his powerful half-volley away from goal.
MATCH STATS!
Liverpool had 69% possession in that first half, but it was only in the final six minutes that they began to make use of that. You can check out all of the match stats by clicking here.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half!
Liverpool have quickly reassumed control of possession at the start of this second half - it has fallen back into a familiar rhythm straight away!
Good chance for Liverpool as Firmino breaks into the box before slipping a pass to Mane, who hits the post but does so from an offside position.
There have been signs of Watford beginning to tire a little in their defensive work both at the start of this second half and the end of the first. Liverpool are being forced to be patient, but they will be confident that chances will come.
Alexander-Arnold swings a cross into the box and Firmino attempts an outrageous bicycle kick, but unlikely Emre Can's winner on this ground a couple of seasons ago he doesn't get it right.
PENALTY APPEAL! BIG shout for a penalty from Watford as Hughes goes down under the challenge of Robertson, who was just a bit late getting to the ball. However, the Scot took his foot away just in time and Jon Moss has got that one spot on.
UPDATE: It is turning into a thrilling Premier League return for Ranieri - Southampton have levelled things up at 2-2, with Armstrong getting his second of the game.
WATFORD SUB: Watford make the first change of the evening as Deulofeu is replaced by Isaac Success.
YELLOW CARD! Henderson is the first name in the book today, dragging Success down to stop a counter.
UPDATE: Everton have ensured that at least one Merseyside outfit are winning today - Gylfi Sigurdsson has given them the lead against Cardiff.
Half a chance for Liverpool as Lovren produces a lovely turn and digs a cross out to the back post, but Firmino cannot get good enough contact on his effort at the back post.
Another chance for Liverpool to counter, but Mane delays his pass to Salah just too long and the offside flag is raised against the Egyptian winger.
UPDATE: Fulham have re-taken the lead against Southampton, with Mitrovic getting his second of the game! That would be a much-needed win for the Cottagers - it is now 3-2.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-1 LIVERPOOL (MOHAMED SALAH)
GOAL! Liverpool finally break the deadlock, and it is the scourge of Watford Mohamed Salah who gets the goal!
The front three are all involved as Firmino slides a pass down the left channel for Mane, who in turn pulls the ball back into the box. Salah is there to meet it and squeezes his first-time finish past Foster, who perhaps should do better.
It may not be a win as emphatic as Man City are producing at West Ham, but as things stand it is another three points on the board from a difficult fixture for Klopp's side.
Watford need to take a few more risks now, which could in turn open up more space for Liverpool's attackers at the other end. This one is very finely poised with around 20 minutes remaining.
SHOT! Liverpool are only able to clear a cross as far as Capoue, who is urged to shoot by the fans and obliges with a long-range half-volley which flies well over the crossbar.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool make their first change of the match as James Milner replaces Shaqiri.
WATFORD SUB: Attacking change from the hosts here as Andre Gray comes on for Hughes.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-2 LIVERPOOL (TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD)
GOAL! Brilliant from Alexander-Arnold! The right-back scores a stunning free kick from all of 25 yards to surely take this game beyond Watford!
Foster was left rooted to the spot as the youngster's effort flew over the wall and in, and now Watford really do have a mountain to climb.
That second goal came just after Watford had brought on a third out-and-out striker - good for their chances of perhaps clawing their way back into this match, but it could also leave them exposed at the back.
SHOT! A short corner is worked into the box and only cleared as far as Henderson, but the captain's first-time effort flies a long, long way over the crossbar.
Jon Moss has a long word with Henderson, who has already been booked of course. The Liverpool skipper just needs to rein himself in a little here.
RED CARD! JORDAN HENDERSON (LIVERPOOL)
RED CARD! What did I say?! This one has been coming - Henderson picks up a second yellow card for a bodycheck on Capoue, and now Liverpool will have to see out this game with 10 men.
CHANCE! The ball drops to Success inside the area, but his low strike is blocked before it can test Alisson.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Defensive change from the visitors - as you might expect - as Fabinho replaces Salah.
SHOT! It all opens up for Pereyra to have a go at goal and he tries to bend his 25-yard shot into the far corner, but Alisson watches it drop past the post.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-3 LIVERPOOL (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
GOAL! Liverpool add a third late on as Robertson leads the charge on a counter-attack. The Scot finds Mane in the middle, but the Senegal international sees his striker brilliantly saved by Foster.
The ball drops to Firmino, though, and he manages to bundle his header past Foster. A moment of confusion follows, with players looking to the linesman, but he was onside and the goal counts.
CHANCE! Chance for Watford to pull one back as Cathcart rises unmarked inside the area to meet a corner, but he cannot keep his header down.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.
LIVERPOOL SUB: A third and final change for Liverpool sees Joel Matip replace Firmino.
FULL TIME: WATFORD 0-3 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool remain two points off the top in the Premier League, then, courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
It is an impressive scoreline, but it is harsh on Watford and it wasn't until the 67th minute that Liverpool made the breakthrough. Salah opened the scoring, and Alexander-Arnold and Firmino added to it despite Liverpool having to play the closing stages with 10 men after Jordan Henderson was sent off.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's game as Liverpool keep the pressure on Man City with a 3-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road! I will leave with with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
