Liverpool played hosts to Watford at Anfield after dispatching Villarreal at the same ground in midweek. The English Premier League tie was poised to excite even with Jurgen Klopp opting for a much-rotated squad.
Joe Allen opened the scoring from a knockdown by Christian Benteke after a ball was hoofed into the path of the big Belgian who was left practically unmarked. Roberto Firmino came on to score from a shot just outside the penalty box which ideally Heurelho Gomes should’ve gotten a stronger hand to.
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Both sides kept creating chances but Watford couldn’t find the breakthrough which would’ve brought them back into the game. The game ended with Liverpool wrapping up all 3 points.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
Simon Mignolet looked very assured on the evening even if Odion Ighalo tried to lob him from 40 yards. He produced a brilliant save from close range when Ighalo got himself into a position strikers score 9 times out of 10. He was decisive and offered a safe pair of hands all evening.
Jon Flanagan – 6/10
Jon Flanagan was not tested that strongly on this evening but was looking quite off pace all through the game. It seems he still has a way to go before achieving full match sharpness after returning from an extremely long injury a while back.
Lucas Leiva – 7/10
Lucas Leiva looked completely at odds against the pair of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney when the ball was pumped into the air. However, with the ball on the ground he wasn’t all that easily shook off. He seemed stretched at times by Skrtel’s positioning.
Martin Skrtel – 6/10
Martin Skrtel blew hot and cold all game. He seemed to be all over the place at times especially early on but seemed to be there when needed on some occasions too. He did make his partner’s job tougher at times.
Alberto Moreno – 7/10
Alberto Moreno was useful going forward and decent defensively. He didn’t really have the sort of sparkling performance he could speak of sometime in the near future but was really solid overall.
Kevin Stewart – 7/10
Kevin Stewart does not seem out of place at this level, however, he didn’t seem to be completely in control all the time. He put in a solid performance in the game but his positioning could’ve been better.
Joe Allen – 8/10
Joe Allen seems to be there when necessary. He keeps play ticking and drives into the box. Allen was at the right place at the right time when he pushed in the opener in the game and provided Kevin Stewart with ample support back in midfield when off the ball.
The Welshman nearly managed an assist too had Benteke scored from his through ball in the second half.
Jordon Ibe – 6/10
Jordon Ibe did have his moments but barely managed to do anything conclusive all game.
Sheyi Ojo – 7/10
Sheyi Ojo seemed to provide some much necessary spunk on the wings for Liverpool. His impressive pressing created the opportunity for Firmino to grab Liverpool’s second.
Philippe Coutinho – 7/10
Philippe Coutinho seemed his usual self, feinting and dribbling with the ball causing some trouble every now and then. He was substituted for Roberto Firmino later on.
Christian Benteke – 7/10
Christian Benteke put in a good shift leading the line and made a complete nuisance of himself when the ball was lofted to him. He did knockdown for Allen to open the scoring and pressed strongly when off the ball. He could’ve scored a couple of times but seemed to be lacking the confidence that comes from playing a run of games.
Substitutes
Roberto Firmino – 7/10
Roberto Firmino did very well once he was thrown into the mix. He scored the second from a decent shot at goal and kept trying to drive play in the opposition third.
Cameron Brannagan – NA
Connor Randall – NA
Watford
Heurelho Gomes – 5/10
Heurelho Gomes could’ve done better for the second goal as he got a weak hand to the ball which he could’ve parried with relative ease.
Craig Cathcart – 6/10
Craig Cathcart had a decent game as he went toe to toe with Liverpool’s wingers. He did not seem to do much wrong.
Miguel Britos – 4/10
Miguel Britos had his work cut out for him as Christian Benteke troubled him all evening. He could’ve been punished on a number of occasions by a striker on top of his game. Britos could’ve done a better job closing Firmino down for the second goal. He was yellow carded for his troubles.
Sebastian Prodl – 5/10
Sebastian Prodl hardly fared any better than his fellow defenders and kept backing down a lot when players charged at him with the ball.
Ikechi Anya – 6/10
Ikechi Anya didn’t do much wrong but didn’t seem completely at ease either.
Ben Watson – 6/10
Ben Watson didn’t seem to do much wrong again but he wasn’t really all that effective on either side of the pitch
Mario Suarez – 5/10
Often stretched as Liverpool drove forward with the ball, Mario Suarez barely managed to hold fort. He was substituted early in the second half as Watford chased the game.
Jose Manuel Jurado – 6/10
Jurado seemed to put in a good defensive shift but could not make anything conclusive happen offensively.
Almen Abdi – 5/10
Almen Abdi began decently and faded away as the game wore on. He was substituted later in the game.
Troy Deeney – 6/10
Troy Deeney began the game brightly but was eventually made to look more and more isolated as the game wore on. He gave Martin Skrtel enough of a game as the two wrestled to take control of their area of the pitch often.
Odion Ighalo– 6/10
Odion Ighalo tried everything from the audacious to the simple right down to route one play but couldn’t put one past the keeper. Mignolet produced a brilliant save to foil him from really close range.
Substitutes
Adlene Guedioura – 6/10
Adlene Guedioura tried his best after coming on but seemed to project a fairly forlorn figure as Liverpool kept control of the game.
Steven Berghuis – 5/10
Brought on when Watford chased the game. He was yellow carded for his troubles.
Nordin Amrabat – 5/10
Nordin Amrabat came on to make a few good runs but couldn’t do anything consequential in the end.
