Liverpool travelling to Watford lingers loathly in the memory as potential banana skin and the first half made those lingering doubts seem well-founded. Yet, the Reds eventually swatted the Hornets 0-3 at Vicarage Road.
This run of matches will more or less determine Liverpool’s season. As the middle third of the campaign begins, the pressure continues to build on the Reds as Manchester City set a record pace in the title race.
As the opening half ended, Liverpool had successively squeezed the home side into their half and created a trio of chances that forced last-ditch efforts to avoid conceding. Both Sadio Mané and Mo Salah forced big saves from Ben Foster, including a blistering overhead kick and a header from a well-constructed corner.
Still, in the second half, Liverpool worked out Watford and Salah broke the deadlock with a beautifully built-up goal. Of all the shots that Foster failed to stop, the Egyptian’s shot, right at keeper, ultimately beat him.
Shortly after Xherdan Shaqiri was substituted for James Milner, the Reds won a free kick right in the Swiss international’s sweet spot on the pitch. With Shaqiri on the bench, Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up and blasted a thunderbolt int the top corner past a stunned Foster. It was a glorious strike.
It was all but over, but Roberto Firmino added some gloss to a well-earned win on the road in the 89th minute, finishing another well-worked attack with the Reds on the break and playing a man down.
Here are four findings from the match:
