Liverpool Vs Watford - English Premier League - Wednesday 27th Feb 20:00 GMT - Match Preview

Liverpool takes on Watford at Anfield tomorrow night and will be grateful of the midweek match so they can get the poor showing from Old Trafford out of their system. It's been two games now where Liverpool have failed to score a goal and Klopp will be hoping to put an end to that as they approach the final stretch of the Premier League season. The Reds have allowed the gap to close to just 1 point now after dropping points in 3 of their last 4 matches and so after 27 games played they sit in 1s place with 66 points ahead of Manchester City on 65. Liverpool fans will no doubt have one eye on City's game against West Ham hoping they drop points but Liverpool's fate remains in their own hands and they can ensure the title by winning all of their remaining games.

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There was more than 2 points which Liverpool lost at Old Trafford on Sunday with striker Roberto Firmino forced off before half time with an ankle injury, at the press conference earlier today Jurgen Klopp said the injury was not as bad as first feared and there was even a chance Firmino could play on Wednesday night but would need to be assessed. Klopp may also be without midfielder Naby Keita who was absent from training with a reported illness, he is another that will require an assessment ahead of the game but I am optimistic that he will be healthy enough to start.

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Trent Alexander Arnold was the surprise omission from the side on Sunday with Milner playing at right-back, it is likely Trent will return against Watford who he managed to score a sublime free-kick against the last time these sides met. Dejan Lovren is close to a return according to Klopp but isn't quite ready to come back into the side just yet and so the rest of the back 5 should remain as it has been for the past few games. It will be interesting to see how Klopp sets up the rest of the side, especially if Firmino is unable to play. Questions have been asked about the potency of Liverpool's attack and why it is no longer causing as much destruction to oppositions defences as it did previously. Playing Salah central in place of Firmino and bringing in Shaqiri to play on the right is one option but Klopp could also mix it up completely with a new system to try and get more out of his attacking players.

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Watford will be without left-back Jose Holebas who accumulated enough yellow cards to see him suspended and right-back Kiko Femenía is out with a hamstring injury but other than that manager Javi Garcia has no fresh injury concerns and is likely to stick with the same line-up that defeated Cardiff 1-5 last time out. Both strikers were on top of their game that day with Gerard Deulofeu scoring a hat-trick and partner Troy Deeney scoring twice, Liverpool have kept 3 clean sheets in their last 3 games but Watford's front men will be full of confidence and looking to grab more goals. They are a side in good form winning their last 3 games in a row and losing just once in the last 10 with their single defeat coming against Spurs 5 games ago.

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Watford are a solid team and represent a threat to Liverpool, they offer a bit of a unique challenge in the Premier League with Javi Garcia playing a 4-2-2-2 formation that you don't see very often. They are a side that set up to sit back then hit teams on the counter attack making them a dangerous team for Liverpool who likes to play high up the pitch. However, when the sides met previously this season Liverpool came away with a 3-0 lead despite having Henderson sent off towards the end of the game. It wasn't as easy as the scoreline suggests though with Liverpool having to wait until late in the game for Salah to open the scoring and Watford had their fair share of chances. Liverpool fans will be hoping for the same result but a smoother performance as their side looks to remain at the top of the league.