Top meets bottom as Liverpool welcome Watford to Anfield in this weekend’s opening Premier League clash.
Victory for Liverpool will temporarily send them 11 points clear of Leicester City, whereas Watford will spend Xmas propping up the table if they lose and Norwich beat the Foxes on Saturday afternoon.
Team news
Liverpool could be without centre-back, Dejan Lovren after he was substituted in Tuesday’s midweek win over Red Bull Salzburg with a knock.
Adam Lallana is also doubtful with an undisclosed injury and the pair could join Fabinho (ankle) on the sidelines.
Joel Matip (knee) is nearing a first-team return but won’t be ready until the New Year, whilst Nathaniel Clyne is still absent with a similar long-term issue.
Watford could have Daryl Janmaat back from a knee injury, which has sidelined him for their las four matches.
Craig Dawson is also set to return in defence after missing their last three games with a head injury.
Danny Welbeck (thigh), Tom Cleverley (heel), Sebastien Prodl (knee) and Jose Holebas (ankle) are all ruled out.
Form
Liverpool have registered their first pair of consecutive clean sheets for this season in the past week, although a three goal win at Bournemouth marked their first domestic clean sheet in eight league games.
Watford have taken four points from their last five outings but have kept just one clean sheet in eight away league games this season.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Watford (W6, D1).
- Watford have lost their last two trips to Anfield by 5-0 results on both occasions.
- Liverpool’s eight goals last season came from five different goal scorers, with Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk both scoring braces here in February.
- No goalkeeper has conceded more goals in Premier League history than Watford’s Ben Foster, having leaked in 487 goals in 342 appearances.
- Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has played a league-high 1,190 passes this season entering this weekend.
Prediction
With their FIFA Club World Cup adventure beginning once this match is done, Liverpool will surely look to wrap this game up as quickly as possible against a weak Watford team.
The Hornets however are playing their first proper game under Nigel Pearson so expect them to try and execute his defensive tactics to the best of their ability, because the overall gameplay will come in the next few matches.
I am therefore going for a routine home win with a couple of rapid substitutions once the win is sealed.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Watford
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Watford