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Liverpool will be hoping to keep firm pressure on Manchester City as they travel to face Watford on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds have made a thoroughly impressive start to the Premier League season, sitting just two points behind Pep Guardiola’s side heading into the hectic festive fixtures.
Key to their form has been a surge of defensive improvements; from a team susceptible to individual errors and moments of weakness to one booming under the leadership of Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool have conceded just five goals in the opening twelve league games.
Still yet to find their usual fluency in attack, the wheels have slowly begun turning for Mohamed Salah, who notched a goal in the 2-0 win against Fulham before a last gasp winner for Egypt in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Tunisia.
His budding relationship with Xherdan Shaqiri appears to be paying dividends for Klopp’s side, with the Swiss international knocking at the door for a starting berth on Saturday after an impressive run of form has seen him make a direct contribution via goal or assist in five of his last six games.
Meanwhile, Javi Gracia’s Watford must be commended for their start to the campaign. The Hornets won their opening four games and currently sit in seventh place ahead of Manchester United.
His side have proven difficult to beat and find themselves just four points off fifth placed Arsenal. Jurgen Klopp will therefore be wary of underestimating their opponents, who possess more than enough quality to cause Liverpool some problems.
However, they have struggled to retain their momentum in recent weeks, winning just two of their last eight games including a surprise defeat to struggling Newcastle and a measly draw against relegation threatened Southampton.
There were eleven goals scored between the two sides in last season’s pair of games, including an entertaining 3-3 stalemate at Vicarage Road. The head-to-head record is very much in favour of Liverpool, who have recorded seven wins to Watford’s two in the ten times they’ve met in the league. Extending that record will be essential in Liverpool’s bid to keep pace with Man City and mount a genuine surge for the title later on in the season.
Team News
A pivotal clash with Paris Saint-Germain later in the week is likely to divert some of Klopp’s attention amid his team selection, with Jordan Henderson unlikely to be risked as he continues his recovery from a hamstring issue.
Naby Keita’s return will be a welcome boost in search of solving the creative puzzle in midfield while Shaqiri is expected to retain his spot after an impressive performance against Fulham.
Watford will be sweating on the fitness of Daryl Janmaat and Sebastian Prodl who have ankle and hamstring injuries respectively. The former’s absence is likely to see Kiko Femenia start in the right-back spot.
Will Hughes will also miss out as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
