Liverpool host Watford at Anfield where the Reds are unbeaten in the last 99 Premier League games when leading at half-time.
One sided affair
The Reds have scored 25 goals in the last seven meetings home and away, conceding just four in that time.
In the Premier League, Liverpool have won nine and lost two of the 12 clashes with one draw, while at Anfield they have won five out of six, suffering one defeat.
On the last five occasions, Liverpool have faced Watford at Anfield the Reds have scored 20 times in total, with 16 coming in the last three.
Twelve Premier League meetings between the clubs have produced 43 goals with Liverpool scoring 33.
They are yet to play out a goalless draw in the 24 league meetings – all of which have been played in the top-flight.
Liverpool have kept nine clean sheets in the last 12 league and cup encounters with the Hornets.
The 6-1 victory here in November 2016 is Liverpool’s biggest over Watford in the league and the Reds have scored three or more goals in eight of the last 12 Anfield league meetings.
Hornet joy
Mo Salah scored on his Liverpool debut against Watford at Vicarage Road in August 2017. He has scored six goals in his four appearances against Watford with only Ian Rush having recorded more – he has 10 from 11 appearances in all competitions.
The Egyptian scored four times against the Hornets in this fixture two seasons ago.
And Salah last scored in three successive Liverpool games in December 2018 – against Wolves, Newcastle and Arsenal.
Gini Wijnaldum‘s first goal for the Reds came at Watford in November 2016 after coming on as a substitute – the Reds winning 6-1.
Roberto Firmino has found the net five times in his seven games against today’s opponents while Sadio Mane has five in five.
Naby Keita has scored five goals in his last 12 starts for the Reds. He could score for a third successive Liverpool game for the first time.
Fortress Anfield
The Reds are unbeaten in the last 99 Premier League games (90 wins and 9 draws) at Anfield when leading at half-time since losing to Arsenal in December 2009.
Liverpool have won 15 consecutive league games at Anfield since Leicester came from behind to draw 1-1 in January. It is their joint second best such run at home. Their longest saw them win 21 successive home league games from January – December 1972.
The Reds have lost two of the last 68 Anfield fixtures – both coming in domestic cups – to West Brom (FA Cup) and Chelsea (League Cup) – both in 2018.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten at Anfield in 48 league games, winning 38 and drawing 10. They have been behind for a total of 154 minutes, 51 of those coming against Tottenham in October.
No way back after the first
The Reds have scored 40 goals in 16 league games this season. This equals their best since they returned to the top-flight in 1962. They also netted 40 at the same stage of the 1978-79 and 2016-17 campaigns.
Liverpool have won 24 of their past 25 Premier League matches (the other being drawn) and have scored two or more goals in 23 of those.
Sadio Mane has scored 30 goals for Liverpool so far in 2019. He is one of only 11 Liverpool players to achieve the feat and it is only the 17th time in the club’s history the landmark has been achieved.
The Reds are unbeaten in league and cup in the last 46 games (43 wins, 3 draws) when scoring the first goal since losing to Chelsea at Anfield in the League Cup last season.
Only one team, Napoli back in September, have prevented Liverpool from scoring in the last 30 matches.
Relentless Reds
Jurgen Klopp’s men have amassed 89 league points in 2019 from 34 games (with three fixtures still to fulfil) – more than they have accrued in the last 29 years since they totalled 89 points from 41 games in 1989.
Trouble at Watford
Watford‘s last win against Liverpool came in December 2015 when Odion Ighalo netted twice to add to Nathan Ake’s third minute opener in a 3-0 victory at Vicarage Road.
Since that victory, Watford have taken one point from a possible 21 against Jurgen Klopp‘s men.
The Hornets have scored two goals in their last eight league visits to Anfield – Daryl Janmaat three seasons ago and Tommy Mooney (1999) finding the net, and in all competitions it is two in 10.
Last season against Liverpool, Watford became the first team in Premier League history to concede at least five goals in three successive away matches against a single opponent in the competition.
Watford’s only league win this season came last month when they won 2-0 at then bottom-placed Norwich with goals from Gerard Deulofeu and Andre Gray. Christian Kabasele was sent off during the game.
They have scored nine league goals during this campaign. They are the only team in the top four divisions not to reach double figures.
Nigel Pearson is Watford’s 13th manager of this decade – a number which includes Quique Sanchez Flores twice whose second spell in charge lasted 85 days before his tenure was ended 13 days ago.
Pearson has managed against Liverpool three times in his career, twice with Leicester and once with Derby.
His only previous visit to Anfield saw his Leicester team recover from a 2-goal half-time deficit to draw 2-2 on New Year’s Day 2015.
Scorers this season
Liverpool: Mane 13, Salah 11, Origi 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 5, Firmino 4, Milner 3, Van Dijk 3, Wijnaldum 3, Keita 2, Matip 2 , Robertson 2, Alexander-Arnold 1, Fabinho 1, Henderson 1, Hoever 1, Lallana 1, Lovren 1, Shaqiri 1, own goals 3
Watford: Deulofeu 2, Gray 2, Pereyra 2, Sarr 2, Cleverley 1, Doucoure 1, Hughes 1, Janmaat 1, Penaranda 1, Welbeck 1
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea.
