Liverpool vs Watford
Liverpool are still at the top of the English game, and Anfield is still one of the toughest destinations to play in England. However, they are losing their grip on the Premier League title and are a bit short-handed defensively. Manchester City are closing in on the summit and Tottenham aren’t that far behind. Any more draws and the Reds can bid goodbye to their top position.
They have a chance to put some more distance between them and the Sky Blues when they face Watford, but the Hornets themselves are in a good run of form. If they aren’t careful enough, they will see the rug pulled under their feet.
Can the Merseyside club keep their position at the top? Or will Watford spoil their season and drag them down the table? Join the SBOBET football team as we take a look at this important match.
Talking Points
Can Liverpool keep the summit?
The Reds have built a reputation over the past three years as a strong football team that is always looking to strike. The 2017/18 campaign saw the fulfilment of Jurgen Klopp’s vision that he has strived to build since his arrival in 2015.
Thanks to the outstanding attacking talents of Firmino, Salah and Sane, the Reds finished with 84 scored goals last season. They kept the goals coming this season as they combine for an astonishing total of 28 league goals.
They also looked solid at the back as Virgil van Dijk and James Milner worked to keep the backline as strong as possible. The emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was also vital in the Reds’ rise to the top of the table.
However, their form has dipped since the turn of the year. In fact, four of their last five matches in all competitions ended in extremely frustrating draws. While some of those matches were against tough competition (like the revitalised Manchester United), it cannot be denied that their Premier League 2019 results are underwhelming, to say the least.
Fortunately, Klopp and the rest of the Liverpool locker room are more than aware of their problems. They know that the fire that brought them to the top is missing and that they must play with their hearts on their sleeves if they want to finish the season as Premier League champions.
They no longer have the centre-back shortage that plagued them over the past couple of months as Van Dijk is now fit to play. It will be up to the squad to play their guts out, work hard for the shirt, and get the three points at Anfield.
The Hornets look to sting
This is possibly the best situation that Javi Gracia’s Watford can be at the moment.
They are far from competing for European places as there are ten points between them and Chelsea. Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team that could leapfrog them in the standings, have struggled to win games against lesser competition. Unlike their hosts, the Hornets come to this game with the littlest amount of pressure.
They have also proven themselves as a club that is worthy of attention. They almost got away with a draw against Manchester City, and their wins over Liverpool’s neighbours Everton and Cardiff City are just some of their impressive Premier League 2019 results.
Their position is also due to the players who are exceeding pre-season expectations. Etienne Capoue showed fans why he was such an acquisition from Tottenham in 2015. Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu have stepped up in the goals department, and Jose Holebas continues to supply goals from the left wing.
There’s nothing Watford should fear at the moment, and the way they have played their football is nothing short of outstanding. There’s no wonder why Sir Elton John keeps on recommending potential players for the Hornets to pick up.
History
It’s quite surprising, but there was a time that the two teams didn’t even face each other on the football pitch. There have only been 25 professional football games the two clubs have played since 1982, and the Reds understandably won 19 of them.
Their most recent matches also paint a discouraging fixture for the Vicarage Road-based club. Five of their last six matches in the league all ended in wins, and three of those results saw the Reds end the game with at least a three-goal lead.
There’s one sliver of hope the travelling Watford faithful can hang on to, though: the Hornets managed to keep up with Liverpool’s scoring and finish the game in a 3-3 draw in August 2017.
Betting Tip
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Liverpool vs Watford | Total Goals @ 2.15 |
| February 28, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
It’s easy to understand why many of the pre-game Premier League 2019 predictions see Liverpool winning with ease. They still have one of the better attacking cores in the entire country, and Virgil van Dijk’s return to the starting XI would surely boost Jurgen Klopp’s confidence.
However, I believe that Watford will be up to par with the Reds. They don’t have the pressure of keeping Manchester City at bay unnecessarily burdening them, and their more recent performances paint an encouraging picture for their supporters and the neutrals.
I surmise this game to be a rather close one, with either Firmino or Salah scoring the winning goal. However, I don’t think either side would be able to score much. The most likely result would be 2-1 in favour of Liverpool.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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