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    Liverpool vs Watford news: Reds can move top with easy win over Hornets

    Dave TindallDave Tindall1 April 2022
    Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, Porto, Champions League

    Roberto Firmino, Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, Porto, Champions League

    The title-chasing Reds can make it 10 Premier League wins on the spin by seeing off Roy Hodgson’s strugglers at Anfield in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

    Jurgen Klopp won't be pleased that Liverpool have been given the Premier League's early Saturday kick-off following the international break.

    Then again, it could have been a lot worse than a home game against Watford.

    Having been 14 points behind Manchester City at one stage, victory at Anfield will take the Reds to the top of the table even though it's likely to be only for a few hours with City taking on Burnley at 3pm.

    When: Saturday, April 2, 12:30 BST

    Where: Anfield

    How to watch: BT Sport 1

    Follow this game via our score centre

    Who is the ref for Liverpool vs Watford

    Stuart Atwell is in charge at Anfield.

    It's fair to say he isn't Liverpool fans' favourite referee after he turned down a series of penalty shouts in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this season.

    He did finally point to the spot to allow Mo Salah to strike the winner and Atwell has awarded four penalties in his 15 Premier League matches this term.

    Season stats 2021/22: Premier League (15), yellows (49), reds (1), penalties (4)

    Recent form

    Before the international break, Liverpool had edged out Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
    That came four days on from a 2-0 win at Arsenal that represented a ninth straight Premier League victory.
    The Reds' last home game was actually a defeat although the 1-0 loss to Inter didn't stop them progressing to the last eight of the Champions League.

    Watford start the weekend in the relegation zone and three points adrift of fourth-bottom Everton.

    They've had flickers of form under Roy Hodgson and beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's last time out.
    They also drew 0-0 at Old Trafford although between those two away results they lost 4-0 at Wolves.

    Liverpool players in form

    It's normally Liverpool's front players who catch the eye but their backline deserves full credit after keeping nine clean sheets in the last 12 matches.

    Virgil van Dijk has looked imperious and Joel Matip is playing the best football of his Anfield career.

    Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, Premier League, Fantasy football

    Before the international break, fit-again Roberto Firmino had scored two in three while Diogo Jota has netted three in his last four matches for club and country after getting an FA Cup winner at Forest and scoring for Portugal in their play-off win over Turkey.

    For Watford, Cucho Hernandez has three goals and an assist in his last four Premier League games so has really found some form having netted just twice in 19 top-flight matches before then.

    Last three meetings

    Watford 0-5 Liverpool (October 16, 2021)

    Firmino bagged a hat-trick as the Reds ran riot at Vicarage Road in Claudio Ranieri's first game in charge of Watford.

    Sadio Mane scored his 100th Premier League goal to put Liverpool in front early on before Firmino struck either side of the break.
    Mo Salah added a sensational fourth on 54 after dancing past three Watford players in the box and firing home before Firmino iced the cake with his hat-trick goal in the final minute.

    Watford 3-0 Liverpool (February 29, 2020)

    Liverpool's hopes of going through the Premier League campaign unbeaten were smashed apart as a rampant Watford condemned them to a shock 3-0 defeat.
    Ismaila Sarr scored twice in quick succession after the break before Troy Deeney completely killed off any chance of a fightback with a third after 72 minutes.
    The visitors had gone into the game on the back of 18 straight Premier League wins and, despite the beating, were still 22 points clear at the top at full-time.

    Liverpool 2-0 Watford (December 14, 2019)

    Klopp's men emerged with three more points to go 10 clear at the top although Watford made them work hard for the win in tricky swirling winds at Anfield.
    Watford had several good chances to take the lead in Nigel Pearson's first game in charge of the club before Salah curled in a right-foot shot seven minutes before the break.

    Mane had a goal ruled out by VAR in the second half and the home fans finally breathed easily after Salah's impudent flicked finish made it 2-0 near full-time.

    Past ten meetings

    Liverpool wins: 8

    Draws: 1

    Watford wins: 1

    Liverpool scored: 32

    Watford scored: 7

    Managers' thoughts

    Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the importance of a lively atmosphere: "Watford won the last game, Watford smells the chance to stay in the league. They will go with everything. Obviously a very experienced manager, the way they set up, very well organised, a lot of individual talent.

    “What we need for this game is the best 12.30pm atmosphere ever. Not nervous, not tense – if you cannot shout and sing, stay at home and give your ticket to somebody else please.”

    Watford boss Roy Hodgson on the return of Senegal's World Cup-bound Ismaila Sarr: “It is great when they go away, and come back fit – but it is even better when they come back like Sarr, celebrating that his team has now qualified for the World Cup.

    “It has been a hard journey for him to play for Senegal this time, but a very successful one, so that has buoyed his spirits I am sure.

    “I am pretty certain he will be putting his hand up and ask to be put into the starting line-up (on Saturday)."

    Predicted Liverpool vs Watford teams

    Liverpool's players have been here, there and everywhere during the international break.

    Of the front five, only Firmino wasn't taking part in World Cup qualifiers and, given his goalscoring return to the side and hat-trick against Watford earlier this season, the Brazilian seems a decent bet to start.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold could make a surprise return from a hamstring injury but if not, expect Joe Gomez to deputise at right-back.

    Fabinho was away with Brazil so could be rested. Curtis Jones is one option to come in.

    For Watford, Sarr returned to action in Senegal's World Cup win over Egypt and could return.

    Possible Liverpool line-up: Alisson, Gomez, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Henderson, Thiago, Jones, Firmino, Jota, Sala.

    Possible Watford starting line-up: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara, Louza, Kucka, Sissoko, Hernandez, Dennis, Sarr.

    Liverpool vs Watford prediction

    An early kick-off against beatable opposition could lead to a flat atmosphere in theory.
    But with the chance to go top of the table with a win, the Anfield crowd should be right up for this one.

    Liverpool have won 12 of their 13 home league games against Watford while they've taken victory in their last nine top-flight games at Anfield, scoring 27 goals in the process.

    Expect them to reach that three-goals-per-game average once more by cruising to a 3-0 win.
    Salah has scored nine times in seven appearances against Watford so pencil him in for a goal if given the nod to start.

    READ MORE: Thiago Alcantara says Reds are in a 'one-mission mood' for upcoming clashes

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