Liverpool were beaten, bullied and Bogdan-ed in a brilliant performance from Watford that leaves the promoted side just one point of the Champions League places as they go into the Christmas period. What an astonishing season this continues to be.
Odion Ighalo celebrates scoring his second of the afternoon against Liverpool
Troy Deeney – making a late run for the England squad on this powerful form – and two-goal Odion Ighalo were an old-fashioned throwback of a two-man strike-force as Watford recorded their first home win over Liverpool since 1986 and the days of John Barnes.
For Liverpool this was, at times, simply terrible with their misery summed up by a desperate Premier League debut for goalkeeper Adam Bogdan who was awful – although, arguably, Mamadou Sakho was worse as he was over-run by the Watford attack. With this defeat Liverpool’s own Champions League hopes suffered another set-back.
Bogdan was at fault for Watford's opener
With Simon Mignolet ruled out through injury, a slight hamstring strain, then Liverpool paid a heavy price inside three minutes. His under-study, Bogdan, was horribly at fault as Watford scored.
The goal came from a corner, won by Nathan Ake, and swung in by Ben Watson. Bogdan should have collected it comfortably but was clearly distracted as Deeney came hurtling in. The striker missed the ball, did not touch the goalkeeper, but Bogdan dropped the cross and from close-range Ake forced it over the line. The crowd, boisterous, believing, became even more vocal.
Watford were unbeaten in their last 35 league matches in which they had taken the lead but Liverpool quickly carved out two opportunities with a shot by the over-lapping Nathaniel Clyne blocked by Ake and then Heurelho Gomes holding on to Philippe Coutinho’s curling shot.
Evasive action: Troy Deeney avoids a Mamadou Sakho challenge at Vicarage Road
But it was Watford who struck again - and again it was that combination of Deeney and Ighalo. Deeney won the ball in the centre circle, taking it from Jordan Henderson and lofted it forward towards Ighalo who was then up against Martin Sktrel. The Watford striker proved too strong, too determined as he held off Skrtel, creating space and angled a low right-foot shot across Bogdan and into the net. An 11th league goal of the season for Ighalo and a 27th in 2015.
On the touchline Jurgen Klopp make a ‘chin up’ gesture to his players who had been undone twice by Watford’s belief but also their own mistakes. It was already a long way back for a team who had won at Vicarage Road in their last five visits but who were facing a very different Watford here.
Possession stats
And they almost struck again. Deeney deftly volleyed the ball forward towards the onrushing Jose Manuel Jurado only for Bogdan to reach it first – punching it straight into Lucas Leiva’s face. It rebounded around with a sight of goal then falling to Jurado whose low first-time shot was beaten out by Bogdan as it threatened to squeeze inside the near post.
Liverpool lost Sktrel, who had endured an awful afternoon, to injury with Divock Origi replacing him as Klopp desperately tried to re-jig his team – with, interestingly, Lucas dropping back to central defence. From the corner Sktrel had conceded Watson again swung the ball in, again it ran through – with Bogdan desperately punching it out from off the goal-line.
Liverpool – and Klopp – were out for the early second and the visitors were clearly stung. Three half-chances were immediately created with Adam Lallana’s shot blocked and Alberto Moreno slipping as his effort struck then side-netting before Gomes held Origi’s low effort.
But Watford pushed back with Ighalo and Deeney again forcing the Liverpool defence into panicky mistakes with their strong running and positivity. And skill. As Ighalo showed in tricking his way past the increasingly calamitous Sakho and pulling the ball back to Jurado. Lallana intervened but only turning it back to the Watford player who could not connect properly with the ball eventually cleared, just about, for a corner.
There was soon another intervention from Lallana as he reached a deep cross by Clyne but could only steer his header across goal and wide rather than into the net with Gomes stranded.
Attacking stats
But it was Watford who should have scored when Jurado’s clever pass left Sakho on the turf and Ighalo through on goal. He shot early and Bogdan did well to divert it for another corner.
It was end to end. Another chance fell to Liverpool with Henderson forcing his way past Ake before trying to lift the ball over Gomes who finger-tipped it over the cross-bar. The Brazilian then turned away a powerful drive from Emre Can.
But there was no way back and Watford struck again with a skilful, determined counter-attack that owed much to Etienne Capoue who twice won the ball back with Deeney eventually sending a pass out wide to substitute Valon Behrami whose cross was met by Ighalo who stooped to head past Bogdan from close-range.
It meant the margin of victory reflected the game. Watford deserved this.
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