Liverpool vs Watford preview: Jurgen Klopp's side must win to stay top of Premier League

Liverpool must beat in-form Watford on Wednesday (kick-off 8pm) to ensure they end the midweek round of fixtures top of the Premier League.

• Watch midweek PL goals on mobile
• Klopp: Firmino could face Watford
• Gracia: No Watford targets

With Manchester City also hosting West Ham on Wednesday and Liverpool leading at the top of the league by only a point, following their 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Sunday, Jurgen Klopp's side have no room for manoeuvre in the title race.

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Talk of nerves may be premature but Liverpool have dropped as many points in the last four games as in the first half of the season combined.

On Wednesday they will come up against a Watford side fresh from a 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff, their second-best top-flight away win ever having lost only once - a late defeat at Tottenham - since Boxing Day.

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Liverpool's home form has been rampant all season though, and bar a slip against Leicester last month only Manchester City have left Anfield with anything to show for their efforts this season, while Watford's last two trips to the ground have been painful, ending on the wrong end of 6-1 and 5-1 defeats in the last two seasons.

Team news

Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino is doubtful for the visit of Watford but has not yet been ruled out by manager Jurgen Klopp.

The Brazil international was forced off in the first half of Sunday's goalless draw at Manchester United after rolling his right ankle and - while the injury is not as serious as first feared - he appears unlikely to feature at Anfield.

Midfielder Naby Keita has recovered from illness and trained on Tuesday but defender Dejan Lovren (hamstring) is not yet ready to return.

Watford head coach Javi Gracia has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Wednesday's trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Gracia may well stick with the side that thrashed Cardiff 5-1 on Friday, with only Kiko Femenia missing out. The full-back has returned to training following a hamstring injury but the trip to Anfield comes too soon.

Opta stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with Watford (W5 D1), netting 20 goals and keeping four clean sheets in that run.
• Watford have lost 10 of their 11 top-flight away games against Liverpool, with the only exception being a 1-0 victory in their first ever Premier League game at Anfield in August 1999.
• Only against Arsenal (15) have Liverpool scored more Premier League goals at Anfield than they have against Watford (13) under Jurgen Klopp.
• Watford have lost their last 11 away Premier League games against 'big six' teams since beating Arsenal at the Emirates in January 2017.
• Liverpool have scored at least five goals in their last two home Premier League games against Watford (6-1, 5-0); the last top-flight team to do so against an opponent in three consecutive seasons back-to-back were Man City against Chelsea between 1956-57 and 1958-59.
• Watford's Gerard Deulofeu became the first Hornets player to score a top flight hat-trick since Mark Falco in 1986 in their 5-1 victory at Cardiff City.
• Liverpool's front three have all been directly involved in more than five goals each for the Reds in Premier League meetings with Watford - Mohamed Salah has six goals and one assist in three games, Sadio Mane has three goals and three assists in four games, and Roberto Firmino has five goals and three assists in seven games.

Merson's prediction

Watford are 12/1 to win this football match, which is ridiculous. Ridiculous.

This is a dangerous game for Liverpool; the pressure is on, and they have to win. Watford have just come off a 5-1 win, Liverpool have just come out of a hard week and Roberto Firmino is injured.

I'm tipping Liverpool to win it, just, but I would not be shocked one iota if Watford got something from this game. I can't explain what an unbelievable banana skin this is.

If Watford had been beaten by Cardiff, this would be a walk in the park for Liverpool, but all of a sudden Watford are turning up there and thinking they've got nothing to lose. They'll have a go.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (8/1 with Sky Bet)

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