Another match, another Liverpool win. Liverpool beat Watford 2-0 to stay top of the Premier League table. The Reds needed two goals from winger Mohamed Salah to get a past a tougher than expected Hornets side.
Liverpool Squeak Past Watford At Anfield
Surprisingly Tough
37. That’s the number of points separating Liverpool and Watford coming into this game; a Premier League record.
A Liverpool win seemed inevitable. Yet, the contest between the two was not indicative of that gap.
Indeed, Watford had the first clear chance of the match when midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré found himself alone in the box.
The Frenchmen failed to properly connect with the ball on his shot and the Hornets were made to pay for that miss.
Liverpool had dominated possession up to that point but created very little at a windy Anfield.
It took them 38 minutes to get a shot on target but, when that strike came, it was well worth the wait.
Winger Sadio Mane played a lovely through ball to Salah; The Egyptian then steadied himself and released an incredible strike into the top corner of the Watford net.
The Hornets then missed another clear chance to equalize before half time as winger Ismaila Sarr completely missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Liverpool dominated the ball- finishing with 67 per cent possession – but Watford looked dangerous.
Allison was forced to make a good save from winger Gerard Deulofeu and the former Barcelona man hit the post from a corner.
The Hornets had eight shots to Liverpool’s sixteen. The Reds were also denied a second goal by VAR. Mane seemed to have put the Reds 2-0 up with a brilliant header but was found to be centimetres offside.
It took 90 minutes to make the points safe. Salah was the beneficiary of a mishit shot that he calmly backheeled through a defender’s legs.
Liverpool were not at their rampant best in this game, but they were good enough to beat Watford who are still languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Good and The Bad
Top of the Premier League table and through to the next round of the Champions League, it may seem like everything is perfect for Liverpool.
But, once again, the injury bug has affected the Reds.
This time, Georginio Wijnaldum couldn’t continue after pulling up with a muscle strain – this is bad news for the Reds as they are already without another key midfielder in Fabinho going into the busy Christmas period.
Any long period without Wijnaldum would be devasting for the Reds as the Dutchman has been a key player this season.
He has played nearly every Premier League minute and has a passing accuracy of 90 per cent.
In addition, he makes nearly one interception per game and the Dutchman hasn’t made a single defensive error this season.
The Reds will feel his loss but, on the bright side, Salah is coming into form.
The Egyptian has scored four goals in his last three games. This is ominous news for any of Liverpool’s future opponents.
Onwards and Upwards
As Liverpool win again in the Premier League, their focus will now turn to the Club World Cup which starts on Wednesday.
The Reds have never claimed this competition, but they will be hoping that Salah’s form continues and they can cement their place as World Champions for the first time.
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