TEAM NEWS
Should the Reds decide against risking him, the Brazilian would be likely to return in Sunday’s Merseyside derby with Everton. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has a chance of playing despite being forced off at Manchester United with an ankle problem.
Naby Keita will be monitored after a recent illness, but defenders Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez remain out.
Watford could name the same side which began Friday’s 5-1 win against Cardiff.
This match comes too soon for full-back Kiko Femenia, who is back in training after a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be their only absentee.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@Wilsonfooty: With one memorable exception, Watford’s journeys to Anfield have proved to be utterly fruitless – but Tommy Mooney is probably still dining out on that exception.
Mooney scored in front of the Kop in August 1999 as the Hornets recorded their first (and still only) league points at Liverpool in a 1-0 win. That was their only away victory of the entire season, as they finished bottom of the Premier League.
Watford, like Liverpool, are a much better side these days. Javi Gracia’s men have lost just one of their last 10 away games in all competitions, and put five past Cardiff in South Wales last Friday.
Liverpool should win – some might say that Liverpool must win. However, that’s not to say that Liverpool will win.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the title run-in: “We don’t have to look as far ahead as 11 games.
“It is so positive. If you only judge the moment and see the opportunity everything is fine.
“If you look back then it makes life more uncomfortable.
“In a situation where you can be champions for the first time in your life it is a pure opportunity and you have to use that on the front foot.”
Watford head coach Javi Gracia on the threat posed by Mohamed Salah: “I remember in the last game we played against him he scored a lot of goals.
“I try to learn from all the games, of course… we have analysed the last games against them, this season and last season as well, and we try to do better next time.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
This is a tricky week for the Reds, with the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park coming up on Sunday. What they really want ahead of that is a decent performance and a comfortable victory.
I think they will get the win, but they are going to have work for it because Watford are on a good run and they will provide a serious test.
Prediction: 2-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with Watford (W5, D1), scoring 20 goals and keeping four clean sheets in that run.
- The Hornets’ two most recent trips to Anfield ended in a 6-1 defeat in November 2016 and a 5-0 loss in March 2018.
- Watford have lost 10 of their 11 league games away to Liverpool, with the exception a 1-0 victory in August 1999 courtesy of a Tommy Mooney goal.
Liverpool
- The Reds have scored more than once in just two of their nine league and cup games in 2019.
- They have registered a total of three shots on target in their previous two matches – one against Manchester United and two versus Bayern Munich, failing to score in either match
- The Merseysiders have dropped nine points in their last seven league games, having missed out on just six points in their first 20 matches this season.
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last 26 league and cup home matches in the month of February (W19, D6) – that was a 2-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion in February 2013.
- Jurgen Klopp’s side are unbeaten in 34 Premier League games at Anfield since losing to Crystal Palace in April 2017 (W24, D10).
- Mohamed Salah, who is one shy of 50 Premier League goals for Liverpool, has six goals and one assist in three games against Watford.
- Sadio Mane has three goals and three assists in four matches versus the Hornets.
Watford
- Watford have lost their past 10 top-flight matches against teams starting the day top, a run spanning almost 33 years.
- The Hornets have also lost 11 consecutive away league games against sides from the established top six, with their last such victory coming at Arsenal in January 2017.
- However, Watford have only lost one of their past 11 matches in all competitions (W6, D4).
- They scored five goals in a top-flight match for the first time since 1986 when beating Cardiff 5-1 last Friday.
- All 11 of their Premier League victories this season have come with Abdoulaye Doucoure in the starting line-up.
Source: BBC News
