Jurgen Klopp has warned against any complacency as Liverpool prepare to host Watford on Sunday and admits he is still haunted by his side’s humiliating 3-0 defeat at Vicarage Road last year.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 11 games and could climb to the top of the Premier League with victory against Walter Mazzari’s Watford, should the result in the North London derby go their way.
The visitors, however, are also enjoying a rich vein of form after picking up eight points from a possible twelve in October with three consecutive clean sheets.
Whilst the Reds remain the hot favourites, Klopp has cited last December’s drubbing as evidence that the home side must be at their very best to pick up three points.
“The best thing on this day [the 3-0 loss] was we had the Christmas party at night!” Klopp joked in his pre-match news conference. “It was good, by the way.”
Asked how much his side have improved since, he replied: “Thank God, a lot. It’s not to compare because the time was really busy and we had game after game, injuries. This game was not one of the five best since I’m here, I would say.
“This day Watford did well but it was too easy for them to beat us. We had a big say in this game about the result, unfortunately we used the wrong tools in this day.
“There’s nothing to compare in this moment. But we need a very strong side on Sunday. Watford maybe changed more than we changed, I’m not sure, manager, system, players, too.
“I think they have conceded zero in the last three games, so that says a lot. They play a different system to most of the other teams in the league. You have to respect this and you have to work with it. We did this the whole week until now and we will do this today and tomorrow, and try to figure out what we have to do.
“It’s not only [Troy] Deeney and [Odion] Ighalo. It’s a really strong side with a really experienced manager. We need all we have to win this game.”
Klopp is hopeful that his side can carry momentum into next week’s international break, predicting yet another fantastic atmosphere at Anfield.
“Let’s play football, it’s Anfield,” the German said. “It’s the last game before the international break, so let’s take a positive result, use the momentum. We were in a good moment and now we have to show we are still in a good moment.
“The crowd was fantastic in the last home game. Even at Crystal Palace all our away supporters were really fantastic, even in the game when it was really difficult.
“It’s still quite positive in and around LFC and we have to use this. It’s 2:15 p.m., Sunday afternoon and it’s the best moment because we have no other moments to play our football and to celebrate the LFC mood, if you want. That’s what we have to show because it’s a difficult game for sure.”
James Milner is expected to return after being sidelined for last weekend’s trip to Crystal Palace, while Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum are also in contention following midweek illnesses.
After Manchester City dropped points at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, the game represents a golden opportunity for the Reds to nudge ahead of their potential title rivals.
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