WHAT A MISS! That should have been three! It was a great move by Liverpool, as Firmino slipped a great pas into the path of Brannagan - the youngster in turn standing up a cross that Benteke met at the far post, but the Belgium forward somehow turned his headed effort over the target.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this game...
88'
C. Randall enters the game and replaces Alberto Moreno.
A third and final change for Liverpool now then, as Alberto Moreno makes way for another Liverpool academy-graduate Connor Randall.
87'
POST! Fantastic play once again from Firmino, who makes a brilliant run to get on the end of a clever pass fro Lucas and drill a low ball across the face of goal. it falls to Ibe at the back post, but the the young winger can only thump his effort against the outside of the upright from an acute angle.
86'
Watford are merely playing for pride now, it seems, and it is really a matter of damage limitation for the visitors, who look devoid of any invention going forward, and are struggling to cope with the pace and trickery of Firmino at the other end.
83'
CHANCE! It’s another sublime passing-move by Liverpool, as Ibe feeds Benteke with a crisp pass. The striker looks set to get his shot away, but hesitates at the last moment, with his eventual effort being well-saved by Gomes. Benteke gets another opportunity from the resulting corner, but he cannot direct his header on target.
81'
Liverpool really are cruising now, as Firmion turns away from Prodl with ease before attempting to slip a neat throughball into the feet of Benteke, but the striker had not anticipated the pass to come his way and Gomes is abel to smother the danger.
78'
C. Brannagan enters the game and replaces S. Ojo.
A second change of the game for the hosts now, as Klopp introduces Cameron Brannagan - a day shy of his 20th birthday - in place of Oluwaseyi Ojo.
77'
CHANCE! Again, Ighalo gets the opportunity to respond immediately for Watford, but once more he cannot find the target as, after he gets in the box down the right, his low strike nestles into the side-netting.
76'
Roberto Firmino has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by S. Ojo.
It was a bad mistake by Anya, but it was caused by the pressing of Ojo, who has been rewarded for his efforts by getting an assist to his name.
GOOOOAAAALLLLL!! LIVERPOOL DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! Well, that’s awful from Watford. First, a mistake from Anya allows Ojo to deflect the ball into the feet of Firmino, who jogs towards goal unchallenged before drilling a low strike towards goal. It should be an easy save for Gomes to make, but the former Tottenham man fails to get a strong enough hand to it, and the ball simply bobbles up and over his arm and trickles into the bottom-left corner. Liverpool 2-0 Watford!
Minute
Description
74'
That’s a booking for Berghuis, who lunges in recklessly on Moreno down Liverpool’s left flank. Firemen duly curls in the resulting free-kick, which Allen meets in the area, but he can only squeeze his effort wide of the left-hand upright.
73'
S. Berghuis gets yellow.
That was an opportunity for Watford, as Deeney and Ighalo combined to feed Berghuis on the edge of the area, slightly to the right of centre. Though he would have been better advised to try and pick put a teammate, the former AZ Alkmaar winger drives an effort on goal, but Mignolet is equal to it.
71'
MISS! The corner is a poor one, but Deeney does brilliantly to track the loose ball down and keep the attack alive. He works it back to Anya, who sweeps in a dangerous cross that falls to Ighalo, but the Watford forward completey mis-times his strike and Liverpool are able to get it clear.
69'
N. Amrabat enters the game and replaces A. Abdi.
That miss will be the last action of the game for Almen Abdi, then as he makes way for Nordin Amrabat - whose first involvement in proceedings is to win a corner on the right.
68'
CLOSE! That’s a good effort by Abdi, who steps up to hammer a curling strike towards the target. it beats the wall, but also soars a foot or so over the top of the crossbar.
66'
The game has rather settled back into a lull flowing that raft of substitutions. The Anfield support ate in good voice, though you still feel that Watford are certainly capable of hauling themselves level and back into this game if Liverpool don’t up the tempo soon. And the visitors have a real chance now, as Allen brings down Abdi right on the cusp of the 18-yard box...
63'
J. Flanagan gets yellow.
That’s a cynical tackle by Flanagan, who rather takes one for the team as he slides in on Ighalo to prevent the Watford forward getting forward on the counter. The youngster becomes the first Liverpool player to go into the book for his troubles.
62'
SAVE! Firmino’s first touch of the game may well have been a goal! Ojo did well down the right to find the Brazil forward, who wasted no time in curling an effort towards the left-hand corner, but Gomes got across well to make the stop.
61'
Roberto Firmino enters the game and replaces Philippe Coutinho.
That short spell of Watford pressure has forced Klopp into a first change of the game, now, as he replaces Philippe Coutinho with the similarly-creative Roberto Firmino.
59'
M. Britos gets yellow.
That’s clumsy from Britos, who kicks out carelessly at the ball when under pressure from Benteke, inadvertently catching the Liverpool striker square in the stomach, and the former Napoli defender duly picks up a yellow card.
57'
S. Berghuis enters the game and replaces José Jurado.
A second change in quick-succession now for Watford, as Flores looks to build some momentum following Ighalo’s chance by introducing Steven Berghuis in place of Jose Jurado, who has struggled to make any impact this afternoon.
55'
WHAT A SAVE FROM MIGNOLET! That’s brilliant stuff from the Liverpool goalkeeper, who retains the hosts’ advantage with an excellent finger-tip save to parry Ighalo’s curling effort wide. It was an incisive move from the visitors, with Anya’s throughball completely carving open the Reds’ defence, but the Hornets’ top-scorer could not take advantage.
53'
A. Guédioura enters the game and replaces Mario Suárez.
A first change of the game now, and it is the visitors who blink first as Flores decides to introduce Adlene Guedioura in place of Mario Suarez.
52'
Almost for Watford! Awful defending from Liverpool allows Abdi to latch onto a corner from Watson. The Switzerland midfielder swings a boot at it, but Skrtel is on hand to block the effort.
50'
CHANCE! What a miss that is from Coutinho! It’s been a much quicker start from Liverpool since the interval, and they carve open Watford’s defence with ease as Stewart and Coutinho combine to set Benteke away. The Belgian is dragged wide, but does well to jink his way past Cathcart and slide in an inviting cross which Coutinho latches onto but, under no pressure, the Brazilian completely mis-hits his effort and it skews wide.
48'
This game really has been played at an end-of-season pace so far this afternoon, with neither side really getting out of third gear. Liverpool have upped the tempo in fits and starts, and they do so again as Ibe - largely anonymous during the first half - gets the better of Cathcart and drives to the byline before pulling back a cross, but it bisects all of the hosts’ attackers that had made their way into the area, and Watford are able to get it clear.
46'
Welcome back! The second half is up and running now at Anfield, as Watford get proceedings underway. It is 1-0 to Liverpool, with Allen’s strike having given the hosts the lead midway through the fist half. It was assisted by Benteke, who is making his first Premier League start since early January.
45'
The fourth official has indicated their will be a minimum of one minute added time at the end of the first half...
42'
That goal has certainly sparked Liverpool back into life, though it has to be said that Klopp’s side do look vulnerable when Watford counter and, especially, when the visitors get the ball into the box. Skrtel has never been the best when it comes to sticking with his man, while Lucas’ lack of height and inexperience of playing in that position means that Ighalo and Deeney are having some joy when they are provided with the service.
40'
Appeals for a penalty now from the visitors as, at the second attempt, Watson manages to get a shot away from the edge of the area. It is heading towards the target until Skrtel intervenes, and though it does appear to strike the elbow of the Liverpool man, a spot-kick would certainly have been harsh.
37'
CHANCE! Ighalo should have put Watford level there! The Nigerian had done well to steal in at the front post and latch onto a cross from the left but, after doing so, he seems to pull out of his effort slightly and, as such, fails to make any significant contact with his header - the ball flashing away across the face of goal.
35'
J. Allen has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by C. Benteke.
It was a simple move from the hosts, with Benteke latching onto a long ball from deep and using his aerial prowess to cushion the ball into Allen, who made no mistake with the finish.
GOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! ALLEN PUTS LIVERPOOL AHEAD! Well, after a poor display so far, it is the hosts who take the lead as Benteke knocks down a header into the path of the aforementioned Welshman, who has the simple task of poking the ball past Gomes and into the bottom corner. That’s the first shot on target in this game from either side.
34'
Really poor! That’s awful from Benteke, who steps up to take the set-piece. After slamming his first effort straight into the wall, he gets a second bit of the cherry when the rebound falls back to him, but he can only volley a strike straight into Prodl, and the chance goes begging.
33'
Well, finally Liverpool press the ball, with Stewart regaining possession and quickly laying it off to Allen, who immediately treads a return-pass into the youngster, who turns on the edge of the area only to be fouled by Britos, with the referee immediately pointing for a free-kick...
32'
A sustained spell of pressure now for the visitors, as Liverpool fail to clear their lines from a succession of corners. Understandably so, Klopp is far from happy on the touchline, and is demanding that his side step up their intensity. At the moment, it is far too pedestrian from the hosts.
30'
CLOSE! That’s a vital block from Skrtel, who manages to deflect Abdi’s goal-bound strike wide of the target. The Switzerland winger netted against Aston Villa last time out, and he would have had his second in as many games if not for that intervention.
28'
That’s a waste. Moreno floats in a looping cross from the resulting free-kick, which Benteke rises highest to meet, but the Belgium forward - who snatched what turned out to be a mere consolation goal last week against Swansea - can only direct his header wide.
26'
In all truth, it has been a rather disappointing or, more accurately, disjointed display by the hosts, though that is perhaps to be expected with Klopp having made so many changes. It is also a rather subdued atmosphere at Anfield, though Liverpool have the chance to change that now as Coutinho is fouled around 30 yards from Watford’s goal...
24'
CLOSE! That’s another lightning-quick counter from Watford, as Ighalo again releases Anya down the left. The Scotland winger drives into the box, only to be forced wide slightly by Flanagan, and he can only skew his eventual strike over the bar.
21'
STAT FLASH - Watford have scored just four goals in their last eight matches on the road, while the Reds have not lost both games to a promoted team in the same season since 2010/11, when they were beaten 2-1 by Blackpool both at home and away.
18'
That’s poor from Moreno, who fails to make Gomes work as he takes on a strike from the edge of the area. The Spaniard had plenty of time to be abel to direct his effort on target, and also had Coutinho in space on his left, but instead only managed to blaze his shot over the crossbar.
17'
Unlucky! That’s a great move by Watford, as Deeney and Ighalo look to combine - with the visitors’ captain cushioning a chested pass back into the path of his strike-partner, who looks set to pull the trigger on a close-range effort when the move is halted, correctly so, for offside.
15'
Good work from Ojo down the right, as the youngster chases down an overhit pass from Flanagan and chips in an inviting cross towards Benteke, but Prodl was alert to the danger and rose highest to head clear.
13'
CLOSE! That could have been the opener for Liverpool! Coutinho did brilliantly to weave his way into the area down the left, getting the better of Cathcart before curling a low strike towards the far corner. It takes a deflection on its way through, however, and inches just wide of the upright.
11'
Ighalo’s effort seems to have sparked Liverpool back into life somewhat, as they maintain a spell of pressure on Watford’s goal. However, following two corners it eventually comes to nothing, with the visitors managing forge a counter-attack down the left. Anya puts in a floated delivery, which pinballs in the area before falling to Abdi. However, his effort is a wild one, and it soars well over the target.
9'
CLOSE! That’s a smart effort from Ighalo, who spots that Mignolet had strayed off his line and quickly dispatches an effort on goal from range. For a moment, it appears as though the ball is going to drop in under the crossbar, but fortunately for the hosts, it lands on the roof of the net.
8'
That’s terrific play from Liverpool, as Ojo cuts inside from the right before drilling a neat pass into Benteke, who in turn lays it off to Allen with a cushioned flick. The Wales midfielder drives the ball out to Coutinho, who duly delivers a low cross, but Prodl did well to get back and hook the ball clear.
7'
STAT FLASH - Should Watford win today, it would be the first time they have ever completed a double over Liverpool. However, the Hornets are without a single victory at Anfield since 1999.
5'
GOOD DEFENDING! That’s fine work from Moreno, who covers really well to prevent Ighalo getting in after the Nigeria striker had easily beaten the offside trap, with Skrtel all over the place for the hosts.
3'
Patient play from the hosts early on, as Coutinho drops deep to begin pulling the strings in midfield. First, the Brazil playmaker aims to pick out the 18-year-old Ojo, but the youngster’s touch is a heavy one and he can only nudge the ball back into the feet of the former Inter man, who immediately switches the play towards Benteke. The ex-Aston Villa striker rises to meet it, but Gomes had reacted quickly and managed to punch the ball clear of danger.
1'
KICK OFF! Following the usual rousing anthem of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, it is the hosts who get proceedings underway.
Hello, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to our LIVE coverage of what promises to be an enthralling end-of-season encounter between Liverpool and Watford in the Premier League. Stick right here for all the action as it happens from Anfield!
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were in rampant form as they comfortably dispatched La Liga side Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield on Thursday evening to progress into the Europa League final, which takes place in 10 days time in Basel, with current holders Sevilla the opponent and, along with a first European trophy since 2005, a place in next term’s Champions League the prize.
The team news is in now from Anfield. Without further ado, let’s assess the starting XIs. We’ll start off with the hosts….
TEAM NEWS - Liverpool substitutes: Toure, Firmino, Sturridge, Brannagan, Randall, Chirivella.
TEAM NEWS - Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Moreno; Allen, Stewart; Ojo, Coutinho, Ibe; Benteke.
So, plenty of changes then from Klopp, with only Simon Mignolet, Alberto Moreno and Philippe Coutinho retaining their places from the line-up that started on Thursday evening. While the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Kolo Toure and Roberto Firmino - who was excellent against Villarreal - dropping to the bench, with James Milner, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Emre Can handed rests. Jordan Henderson, Danny Ings and Divock Origi are among the first-team squad members who are likely to miss the remainder of the campaign. The absence of Liverpool’s usual defensive pairing, plus the suspension of Mamadou Sakho, means that Martin Skrtel is handed a rare start alongside Lucas Leiva, with the two of them providing the experience in what is an otherwise youthful Liverpool starting XI.
On the other hand, Flroes has made just the one change to the line-up that started in the 3-2 victory over lowly Aston Villa at Vicarage Road last weekend. Juan Carlos Paredes was taken off shortly before the hour-mark in that fixture, and the Ecuadorian has to settle for a place on the bench from the start this afternoon. His replacement is the more defensively-minded Sebastian Prodl - a centre-back by trade, though the Austrian international does have experience of playing at full-back.
It is a full-house at a sunny Anfield, as the teams prepare to make their way out onto the pitch. Liverpool will still be hoping of moving into the top six, though Southampton’s earlier victory over a depleted Tottenham has made that task somewhat more difficult, and you would imagine that much of Liverpool’s focus will be on the Europa League final.
Though Klopp’s style and philosophy looks to be finally taking shape on Merseyside, it must be said that the German has found it rather easier to implement his high-intensity pressing play in European competition than he has domestically. The Reds were beaten convincingly by Swansea City last time out, and were bettered 3-0 by Watford in the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road earlier in this campaign - their biggest defeat against a newly promoted side since 1993. However, they have suffered just one defeat in their last 11 Premier League matches at home, and with just Chelsea left to visit Anfield in 2015/16, the hosts - who still have a slim chance of qualifying for next season’s Europa League via the league - will be looking to end their domestic season on a high note.
As for Watford, their season has stagnated somewhat, with a run of just two victories from their last eight Premier League fixtures - combined with an FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley - casting doubt on Quique Sanchez Flores' future, with reports suggesting he will leave at the end of the season. He has been tipped to be on the shortlist for what appears to be the soon-to-be vacant Everton job, with his compatriot Roberto Martinez seemingly fighting a losing battle to retain his job, while there is also said to be interest from his former club Valencia. However, Flores’ focus will be entirely on Watford’s final few games of the season. Having already staved off any threat of relegation by making it to 44 points, just four behind 10th-placed Stoke City, they could still feasibly mark their return to the top-flight with a top-flight finish.
HALF TIME! That’s it for the opening period at Anfield, where Liverpool have taken a 1-0 lead over Watford courtesy of Joe Allen’s goal. It has been a rather tepid affair so far, with neither side able to settle into any real rhythm in the Merseyside sunshine. However, the hosts have shown signs of life, while the Hornets would have been level had Odion Ighalo not squandered a gilt-edge chance from close range.
FULL TIME! It’s over at Anfield, where Liverpool have eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Watford, thanks to strikes from Joe Allen and substitute Roberto Firmino either side of the interval, as Jurgen Klopp’s side moved to within one point of West Ham and to within two points of the top six with two games remaining.
Following their exploits in the Europa League, it was an accomplished and efficient performance by the Reds, who - despite Watford having squandered several chances - never really looked in danger of losing the game, and were able to wrap up the points without ever getting out of third gear. As for the visitors, who remain in 13th, it was a rather stagnant display, lacking in belief, perhaps reflecting the reasoning behind the potential departure of manager Quique Sanchez Flores.
Well, that’s all we’ve got time for from Anfield this afternoon. It has been a pleasure to bring you all of the Premier League action from Merseyside. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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