Watford vs Liverpool - as it happened! Miguel Britos denies Reds perfect start to new season
Relive the action at Vicarage Road minute-by-minute
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool will be looking to jump feet first into this season to let their fans know they’re ready for the Champions League. This season is their first in Europe’s top flight since that disappointing stint in 2014 which saw them exit at the group stages.
With Philippe Coutinho’s future in doubt, Jurgen Klopp will be no doubt eager to see how the rest of his squad are performing potentially without their playmaker.
Watford will be operating at a different end of the table to Liverpool this season. While Liverpool will be competing to retain their place in Champions League football, Watford will be looking to avoid the sort of late decline that saw them drop towards the relegation zone last season.
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What time does it start and where can I watch it?
Liverpool vs Watford kicks off at 12:30 on Saturday 12 August and coverage begins on Sky Sports Main Event from 11:30. Highlights will be shown on BBC One’s Match of the Day from 22:30 later on Saturday.
It’s a big game for…
New Watford manager Marco Silva. This will be his first Premier League game in charge for Watford and after the Hornets' disappointing end to last season, which saw the club go through the entirety of May without picking up a point, he’ll be hoping to make a solid start to put those nerves to rest.
Best stat…
3- The amount of points Watford took from their last 8 Premier League games
Remember when…
Emre Can scored that impossible bicycle kick against Watford last season? Check it out below
Player to watch…
Mohammed Salah. Ex Roma and Ex Chelsea player Mohammed Salah has been Liverpool’s headline signing this summer. Salah was involved with 26 goals in 29 games in Serie A last year, and with Coutinho’s future looking increasingly in doubt, Liverpool fans could be looking to him for their goals.
Past three-meetings…
Liverpool 1 (Can) Watford 0, Premier League, May 2017
Liverpool 6 (Mane, Coutinho, Can, Firminho, Mane, Wijnaldum) Watford 1 (Janmaat), Premier League, November 2016.
Liverpool 2 (Allen, Firmino) Watford 0, Premier League, May 2016
Form guide…
Liverpool: WLWDWW
Watford: LLLLLL
Odds…
Liverpool to win: 11/20
Watford to win: 5/1
Draw: 3/1
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Watford vs Liverpool from Vicarage Road.
With Philippe Coutinho's future dominating the lead-up to this game, can the Reds keep their focus against a Watford side who will have new manager Marco Silva in the dugout for the first time, with a plethora of new signings on the pitch.
Join us for all the build up to the first lunchtime kick off of the new Premier League season!
Jamie Carragher admits he is "surprised" Philippe Coutinho has handed in a transfer request but still does not believe Liverpool will let the player leave this summer.
READ MORE:
Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Liverpool will not let Philippe Coutinho leave the club to join Barcelona because it is too late in the transfer window to replace him. The Reds have so far rejected two approaches from the La Liga giants for the playmaker and were forced to release a statement on Friday morning insisting they would not let Coutinho leave the club.
READ MORE:
Countdown to kick-off
We're less than half an hour away from kick-off in the second Premier League game of the season.
Here is how the two teams line up today:
Watford XI: Gomes, Janmaat, Kaboul, Holebas, Britos, Amrabat, Cleverley, Chalobah, Doucoure, Pereyra, Okaka
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Can, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Salah, Mane, Firmino
What do the bookies reckon?
Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to win this one. The Reds can be backed at 4/7, with the draw available at 10/3 and a Watford win looking good value at 6/1.
Liverpool are standing firm and “100 per cent” determined to keep Philippe Coutinho at the club this summer, despite the player’s emailed transfer request as he seeks a move to Barcelona, who also see Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen as an ideal alternative.
READ MORE:
Redknapp excited by Salah
Jamie Redknapp has high hopes for Liverpool's record signing, the Egyptian Mo Salah.
"I think he'll be great for Liverpool. I think he's a good signing. He wasn't playing at Chelsea, that's why he was lacking confidence. We're going to see a different player now."
Quotes from Sky Sports
Watford vs Liverpool H2H
This is how the last five meetings between these two teams have panned out:
- Watford 0-1 Liverpool (May 2017)
- Liverpool 6-1 Watford (November 2016)
- Liverpool 2-0 Watford (May 2016)
- Watford 3-0 Liverpool (December 2015)
- Watford 0-3 Liverpool (January 2007)
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