The last time Watford played host to Liverpool, they ended Liverpool’s unbeaten run. Watford would go on to be relegated, while Liverpool would end up champions for the first time in thirty years.
This was Premier League winner Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge of Watford, taking over from the sacked Xisco Munoz. He made three changes to the side that lost to Leeds United before the international break, with Craig Cathcart, Adam Masina and Cucho Hernandez coming in for Francisco Sierralta, Ozan Tufan and Joshua King in a 3-4-3 formation.
Liverpool’s preparation for the match wasn’t ideal, with Alisson Becker and Fabinho missing out as they were instead sent to Spain to complete their Covid-19 quarantine following the international break. They were two of four changes to the team that drew against Manchester City, as Curtis Jones missed out through an injury picked up on England duty and Diogo Jota dropped to the bench, replaced by Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keïta and Roberto Firmino. Jürgen Klopp continued with Liverpool’s usual 4-3-3 shape.
From the off, Liverpool completely dominated, finding it easy to work the ball forward despite Watford blocking up the centre in a 5-2-3 shape.
Rather than playing the ball through the centre, Liverpool were working the ball down the wings. Watford’s front three were blocking the passes into the midfield, but this posed little problem for Liverpool as James Milner and Keïta would instead push forward into higher positions either side of Juraj Kucka and Moussa Sissoko, while Roberto Firmino would drop of in between the two midfielders, ensuring the pair couldn’t cover all three.
Watford’s forwards blocked the pass into midfield for Liverpool’s centre-backs, but, in coming narrow, they weren’t in a position to hamper Liverpool’s full-backs. Liverpool would play wide to Andy Robertson and Alexander-Arnold, who could then pass inside to the central midfielder, who could then pass back outside to the winger. This last part of the move was largely thanks to Watford’s wing-backs moving up to pressure Liverpool’s full-backs when the ball went wide to them – they would initially be in the backline, get pulled forward to close down the full-back, only for the ball to be played inside before they could get close to their man, then bounced back out into the space behind them.
With Liverpool’s right flank possessing most of their best ball-players, it was little surprise that they gravitated towards that side, as they have done for most of the season. This method of build-up was particularly useful, as, by dragging Masina up the pitch, it allowed Mohamed Salah to isolate Danny Rose. Looking knackered before the first goal went in and frankly overweight, Rose wasn’t in the best form to be coming up against Salah – the Egyptian repeatedly rolled Rose, shrugging off his challenges and scampering in behind.
This was how Liverpool got their opening goal, with Joël Matip sending Ben Foster’s long kick back in the other direction, Salah outmuscling Rose, then arching a pass in behind with the outside of his foot to set up Sadio Mané for his 100th Premier League goal.
The goal also showcased one of Watford’s main problems: they couldn’t stop giving the ball away. Every time they won back possession, they would hoof it forward, handing it straight back to Liverpool without a fight. Liverpool’s counterpressing was very good, quickening the time Watford’s players had to pick out a pass, while there was always a large gap between the front three and the rest of the team, necessitating a long ball, however this direct play on the counter was presumably how they were intending to play rather than something Liverpool were forcing them into. With a bit of quality, their three attackers could have posed a threat to Liverpool’s backline, but there was no quality, so they didn’t.
Liverpool, on the other hand, were completely the opposite. They kept possession superbly, rarely taking more than one touch before passing it on, while the widemen were happy to move the ball back inside to the centre-backs or Jordan Henderson if Watford looked like shutting down their attack, switching the ball out to the opposite flank to do the same from there.
Watford were at least able to shut up shop a little by having Emmanuel Dennis and Hernandez drop back in line with the midfielders to form more of a 5-4-1 out of possession, however this did nothing to actually help them regain control of the match. It closed up those spaces in the inside channels for Keïta and Milner to pick up the ball, but it also forced Watford backwards and opened up more space for Liverpool’s centre-backs and Henderson in the centre. Keïta and Milner would soon begin to drop back towards the base of the midfield too, with Mané dropping in to join Firmino between the lines as Liverpool played through midfield.
With Watford giving him as much time and space as he wanted, Alexander-Arnold was able to get into a good flow, continually picking out whatever great passes he could spot.
Liverpool doubled their lead by winning the ball back from a high ball in midfield and running at Watford’s backline four-versus-four. Mané cut inside and Cathcart came with him rather than following the overlapping Milner. Cathcart got tied up with William Troost-Ekong, who had come across to cover only for Cathcart to stick with Mané, leaving Milner free to square the ball to Firmino to tap in.
Ranieri switched to a 4-2-3-1 at half-time, bringing on Tom Cleverley for Masina, but it would be just five minutes before Liverpool added another on the counter-attack.
Minutes later, Salah, having surely already secured Goal of The Month for his effort against Manchester City, decided to give himself some competition. Counterpressing on the edge of the box saw Liverpool win the ball back straight after their attack broke down, Salah received it, rolled the ball past three players, sat down Cathcart, then finished from a tight angle.
With the last kick of the game, Firmino secured his hat-trick, tapping in substitute Neco Williams’ cross after the Welshman beat Rose out wide.
It was a shameful, pathetic performance by Watford, but it was one Liverpool brought upon them by not allowing the Hornets to get anywhere near them.
If you enjoy these posts, please consider subscribing to our Patreon or making a one-off donation. For just €2.99, you can get access to premium videos and training sessions.
No responses yet