Friday, March 29, 2024

Prediction: Liverpool vs Watford

Veselin Trajkovic in Free Soccer Predictions 1 Apr 2022

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Verdict: Total goals under 3.5

Best odds: 49/50

Bookmaker: Unibet

The international break is over and in the business-end of the season is upon us. In the Premier League, it’s time for the battles at the top and the bottom of the table to resume, and the clash between Liverpool and Watford, set to take place on Saturday at Anfield, represents a significant part of both.

Liverpool

Liverpool are, of course, locked in the battle against Manchester City for the Premier League title, on top of which both these teams harbour hope of winning the Champions League and the FA Cup as well. They won’t meet in the Champions League before the final – Liverpool face Benfica in the quarterfinals – but they will play in the semis of the FA Cup at Wembley.

These two teams have been dominating English football since 2017/18, and in that time, City have been more successful domestically with three league titles while Liverpool won one, but the Merseysiders managed to add their sixth European crown by winning the 2018/19 Champions League, the only trophy still missing in the Etihad cabinet, but arguably the most prestigious one. Liverpool have also won a trophy this season already – the Carabao Cup is resting safely at Anfield.

As things stand at the moment, City lead the way at the top of the table with 70 points from 29 matches. Liverpool are breathing down their neck with 69, and these two fierce rivals are to face each other directly next week in Manchester. Chelsea, who were tipped to join the race this season, are now 10 points behind Liverpool and represent no real threat to either.

The Reds recorded five wins and one defeat in the last six matches in all competitions. They beat Norwich City in the fifth round of the FA Cup at home by 2-1, as well as West Ham 1-0 at home, before Inter Milan achieved a commendable but ultimately fruitless victory at Anfield, 0-1, in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. After that, Jurgen Klopp’s team achieved two tricky but important away victories, against Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal, both 0-2. Finally, they disposed of Nottingham Forest in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a 0-1 triumph at the City Ground.

Team News

Trent Alexander-Arnold was injured ahead of the international break and was forced to pass on the England call-up, but he is now in full training and should be available to start on the right defensive flank. Klopp may decide to give left-back Andy Robertson a breather following his exploits with Scotland, with Kostas Tsimikas representing a perfectly able alternative that would cherish the opportunity to start.

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Fabinho represented Brazil and might do with a break themselves after crossing the Atlantic twice since the last club match, in which case Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara would be nailed-on to start. Klopp’s decision on that front is still to be seen, as is the case with forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane after their duel in the World Cup qualifications which saw Mane’s Senegal triumph over Salah’s Egypt again. Some rotation is to be expected, given the frequency and magnitude of the games which follow throughout the month.

Watford

Points are equally important for Watford as they are for Liverpool at this stage of the season, though for obviously different reasons. The Hornets are currently below the red line in the Premier League table, sitting 18th with 22 points. Both Everton, sitting directly above on 25, and Burnley, sitting directly below on 21, have two games in hand over them.

Things aren’t looking good for the team led by Roy Hodgson, who was in charge at Liverpool from July 2010 to January 2011, arguably the darkest six months in living memory for the Reds’ supporters in footballing terms.

Be that as it may, there will be no emotions for the 74-year-old on his day back at Anfield as he seeks to inspire his current team. They certainly have nothing to lose, coming to the ground of genuine title contenders, and they will try to do their best to pull off a surprise.

Watford’s recent form hasn’t been too bad for a relegation-battling side, with two wins, a draw and three defeats in their last six outings – all in the Premier League. The run started with a 0-1 win away to Aston Villa. Then came a 1-4 defeat at home against Crystal Palace, before they managed to sneak away from Old Trafford with a point through a 0-0 draw against Manchester United. A 2-3 defeat at home against Arsenal followed, and then a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux, and eventually, a surprising 1-2 win away to Southampton. The Hornets have obviously done better away from home recently, so let’s see what they make of Anfield.

Team News

Defender Jeremy Ngakia missed the Southampton clash but he’s now back in full training and should start on the right. Centre-back Nicolas N’Koulou is, however, a rather big doubt. 

The rest of the squad should be at Hodgson’s disposal, however, including winger Ismaila Sarr who spent the international break with Liverpool’s Mane as they delivered a place at the World Cup for Senegal.

Hodgson might opt to throw in an extra defender with the aim of limiting the attacking potential of the home side as much as possible, though he usually prefers a line of four at the back.

Conclusion

Have no doubt, Liverpool are the absolute favourites to win this match, even if Klopp chooses a heavily rotated lineup. There is too much quality in that squad for Watford to cope with, with all due respect to the Hornets.

The home side’s victory could, on the other hand, end up being narrower than many of the home supporters will have hoped for. But as for Watford, they will likely have to seek for points to help them survive elsewhere.

Verdict: Total goals under 3.5

Best odds: 49/50

Bookmaker: Unibet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Veselin Trajkovic


Vesko is a football writer that likes to observe the game for what it is, focusing on teams, players and their roles, formations, tactics, rather than stats. He follows the English Premier League closely, Liverpool FC in particular. His articles have been published on seven different football blogs.

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