Liverpool vs Watford report: Liverpool Match report
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 33 games with a routine 2-0 victory over Watford and in the process, gained their first clean sheet at Anfield this season. Two goals from the clinical Mohamed Salah saw them extend their lead over Leicester City to 10 points.
The first half-hour saw both teams play with ease before Salah scored a wonderful right-footed curler that found the back of Watford’s goal in the 38th minute. The visitors kept pressing and put in one of their best performances in the first 45 minutes.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were defending a corner and after clearing it, Roberto Firmino neatly flicked the ball to Sadio Mane who burst with speed and played Salah through, who with a good control twisted Kiko Feminia and fired it home for the first goal.
Later, as the match progressed, the visitors kept pressing, with Gerard Deulofeu doing extremely well on the left side. But Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ismaila Sarr missed golden opportunities to convert from within the range.
The second half began with Liverpool’s string of attacks and they had a goal ruled out by VAR. The Reds will now hope for positive news on Georginio Wijnaldum’s injury, which he picked up around the hour mark.
Despite having less possession, Nigel Pearson’s men enjoyed a bit of success down the flanks with some threatening counter-attacks.
However, the lack of quality in the final third proved to be decisive for them as they tested Alisson via Deulofeu and Sarr. For Liverpool, Firmino too seemed to be sloppy as he failed to score from close range.
But in the end, Liverpool punished the visitors with another neat flick from Salah, who picked up Divock Origi’s scrambled shot in the final minute of the game.
Though they had beaten Watford by big margins previously, this match was not a cakewalk for them as the Hornets were also brilliant in their build-up, only for some poor finishing to let them down.
A day after Jurgen Klopp extended his contract with the club, he must be proud of his players after getting a good result.