Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Liverpool maintain their position at the top of the Premier League by beating Watford 5- 0 from the press box at Anfield.
Liverpool were well and truly back into rhythm, and all of the quality things you see from this Liverpool side where apparent.
Before the game Klopp had big decisions to contend with. During the game Klopp was relaxed knowing these decisions proved vital in getting Liverpool back on track.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came back in at right-back, and after missing out at Old Trafford, he had a point to prove. From the first whistle, everything about his game was front foot and anger. Determined to basically play on the right wing.
He sent the tempo of Liverpool’s play from out wide for the first 30 minutes. One touch and bang, into the box. Three of Liverpool’s five goals were set up by Trent’s wonderful right foot that possesses him to curl the ball into the box with plenty of speed at a dangerous height.
As the Kop stood in awe of him, another player who dictated the game and set the tempo for Liverpool was Fabinho. Despite getting beat 5-0 Watford posed a threat to the Reds and in all accounts didn’t play bad. They just couldn’t find a way past Liverpool’s Brazilian defensive midfielder. Four times Liverpool were caught and flipped over by Watford in transition of the ball during the first half, and four times he was there to casually win the ball back. Whether it was the right side, the left or the middle. He was there, to set the tempo for the Reds.
After the lack of imagination at Old Trafford from midfield, it looked certain that either Xherdan Shaqiri or Naby Keita would start this game. People accused Klopp of picking a safe midfield against Watford, however, only two minutes had passed when James Milner ran the length of the pitch to close down a nervous Ben Foster and Liverpool didn’t look back.
With Roberto Firmino injured, questions where asked. “Origi, Sturridge or Shaqiri with Salah upfront?”. Nobody anticipated that Sadio Mane would play the game leading the line, but it worked to perfection. Even Watford manager Javi Garcia sounded surprised during his post-match press conference.
They have lots of good players who can play a number of positions but we didn’t expect that.
Mane played on the shoulder of the last defender throughout the match, which left space in front of him for Origi and Salah to vacate.
Klopp explained the decision in his post-match press conference.
It was the first thought. He can play in close space and in behind. We have other players who can play there but not with the speed of combination that Sadio possesses obviously.
Plenty of questions where asked of Origi, especially when he stood on the left of the pitch ready to start. The Belgian has always been a striker who loves to come out wide and get the ball, so maybe his best position is left wing rather than a striker?
He loves to isolate defenders to one on one situations where he can knock it past them and score, just like he did to Daryl Janmaat and Will Hughes. His first league start since Burnley away in December and he has considerably put himself into the frame for the Merseyside Derby.
Liverpool shifted through the gears as and when they needed too. It was certainly Liverpool back to their best. As previously stated, Watford were by no means the worst side to come to Anfield this season, they just met a rampant and professional Liverpool side.
Virgil van Dijk added two headers late on to round off a comfortable night for Liverpool. One assist from either full back shows this Liverpool side are capable of scoring goals from any position.
Liverpool are now unbeaten at Anfield for 35 matches, whereas Watford have become the first side in Premier League history to concede at least five goals in three successive away matches against a single opponent in the competition.
