EPL: Liverpool overcome Watford

Watford succeeded to keep Mohamad Salah quiet at Anfield, but they couldn’t stop Liverpool from picking up their 10th successive Premier League victory as Diogo Jota and Fabinho found the back of the net. 

There was a sense of atypical lethargy in Liverpool’s game.

They were not moving the ball fast, they did not seem too intimidating, but as all top teams do, they got the job done despite being not at their best. 

Watford defence holds

Since Roy Hudgson’s arrival, Watford have become more structured as a defensive unit.

The Hornets have kept three clean sheets all season, and all of them came after Hudgson took over midway through the campaign. 

Watford made it difficult for Liverpool to get behind their backline.

They did well to keep the Liverpool front three contained for the most part, but the Reds took their chances and put the game to bed.

Ismaila Sarr made it clear early on in the game that it will not be a walk in the park for the home side. 

The Senegal international sent a half volley towards the goal, but it sailed over Alisson Becker’s hands and over the crossbar.

The Liverpool custodian had to spring into action soon afterwards to keep out a Cucho Hernandez header. Alisson made another crucial save to deny Juraj Kucka from close range. 

Watford, who are fighting relegation, appeared to be the hungrier side in the opening stages. But, it was Liverpool who drew first blood. 

Jota scores again

Jota took advantage of a miscommunication between Watford keeper Ben Foster and defender Kiko Femenia and guided a Joe Gomez cross into the net with a powerful header.

It was his seventh headed goal for the Merseyside outfit.

No other Premier League player has scored more headers since Jota joined Liverpool. 

The goal did not do much to kill the visiting team’s momentum.

Sarr had a glorious chance to equalise after the restart, but his poor finish was far off target. 

Fabinho makes it 2-0

It wasn’t until the final minutes that Liverpool got a two-goal insurance.

Stuart Attwell took a look at the pitchside monitor to decide Kucka fouled Jota inside the penalty box.

Fabinho made no mistake to convert the penalty and seal a 2-0 victory for Liverpool.