Liverpool dispatch Watford to remain unbeaten and keep pressure on City

Liverpool retained their unbeaten record in the Premier League with a 3-0 win at Vicarage Road that keeps them just two points off leaders Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to show much creative ingenuity in the opening 45 minutes despite dominating the lion’s share of possession. As they have throughout their promising start to the season, Watford proved tough to break down, holding their own in impressive style to frustrate the Merseyside club.

Indeed, they can count themselves unlucky after referee John Moss waved away protests for a penalty while the score was 0-0. Andy Robertson’s outstretched leg appeared to take Will Hughes to ground but the referee waved the game on, much to the displeasure of the home fans.

What proceeded was an electric second-half performance that saw The Reds make a stark improvement. Roberto Firmino has struggled for large parts of this season due to a withdrawn role off of Mohamed Salah, a pattern that continued at Watford with the Brazilian notably dropping back into midfield to get involved in the game.

It was no surprise then, that more forward movement in the second-half brought an end to the deadlock. An incisive, perfectly weighted ball behind the line of defence for Sadio Mane was met by a drive cross as Salah tapped in his ninth goal of the season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick would double Liverpool’s lead before a last minute tear away goal ensured a healthy gloss to the scoreline.

Orchestrated by the brilliant Andy Robertson down the left, Klopp’s side poured forward in numbers after defending a Watford corner, with the Scotsman’s cutback falling to the feet of Mane. Where he couldn’t finish, Firmino could, nodding home before producing another comical celebration in front of the away fans.

The only stint on an otherwise impressive away win fuelled by dogged determination and grit will be Jordan Henderson’s dismal in the second-half. Having been warned by the referee moments earlier, the captain’s decision to fly into a cynical challenge poured unnecessary pressure onto his side in the final ten minutes. The suspension will also rule him out of the Liverpool’s crunch tie with Everton.

Saturday’s win sees Watford fall to ninth in the table while Liverpool are up to 33 points for the season – the highest tally they have ever managed in the Premier League era. Now thirteen league games unbeaten with another clean sheet under their belt, Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his side can produce the goods in midweek in a bid to keep their Champions League hopes alive.