MX23RW : Friday, January 31 02:59:03| >> :120:38338:38338:
[monks data]
Attendance: 53,316
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 28
Feb 27, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Watford logo

5-0

Mane (9', 20'), Origi (66'), van Dijk (79', 82')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Watford boss Javi Gracia: We are a good squad and are competing well

Watford boss Javi Gracia: We are a good squad and are competing well
© Reuters
The Hornets currently sit seventh in the table.

Javi Gracia will not be drawn on where he thinks Watford will finish this season – but insists even dropping to 15th place would not change his mind about the quality of his squad.

The Hornets travel to face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday night and currently sit seventh in the table after thrashing Cardiff 5-1 on Friday.

With a 10-point gap to the so-called 'big six', Watford currently lead the way for the title of best of the rest – locked on 40 points with Wolves and with West Ham four points further back.

Watford have never finished in the top-half of the Premier League and seventh would represent their best top-flight season since 1983.

But Gracia is more concerned with building a strong and stable squad at Vicarage Road than where the team ultimately finishes at the end of the current campaign.

"At the end we'll see what we are able to achieve, but I'm sure our supporters are enjoying this and that they are proud of these players," he said.

"At the end we will see. One position doesn't change my feeling about this squad. We are a good squad and are competing well.

"We could finish sixth, seventh, eighth or 15th. I just want to be happy with ourselves, to enjoy every day.

"We'll look at the end of the season, but we are in the right way and feeling we are doing a good job."

Watford travel to Anfield having lost their last two league meetings there by an aggregate score of 11-1.

Mohamed Salah was in fine form last season, hitting four of the five goals racked up by Jurgen Klopp's side.

A 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Sunday was enough to take Liverpool back to the top of the table but they have a Merseyside derby and a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on the horizon.

Klopp may therefore make some changes for the Watford game, Salah in particular tired against United and was substituted – but Gracia knows whoever turns out for Liverpool will make it a tough night for the Hornets.

"Now they are going to play different games in the Champions League and Premier League and I am sure they are going to change some players or try to find a balance in changing some players," he added.

"In any case they are a very good team, they can change their shape, they can play different ways. Sometimes this season they have changed their shape but most importantly it is the quality of their players.

"They have a very good squad, very good players and we have to be ready to play against one of the candidates playing for the title and I'm sure it will be a very tough game."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Mark Mann-Bryans, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '3ee194bb-d41e-497a-a4f0-7037202140c4');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Watford boss Javi Gracia: We are a good squad and are competing well'});

ID:351659: cacheID:351659:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5102:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring against Bournemouth on February 9, 2019
Read Next:
Watford boss Javi Gracia wary of Mohamed Salah threat
>
Read more about Javi Gracia Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds29179353193460
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd29186540211958
3Burnley29151223692757
4Sunderland291510442241855
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom291014538251344
6Middlesbrough29128947361144
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn29126113228442
8Bristol City29101183734341
9Watford29125124041-141
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds29118104245-341
11Norwich CityNorwich29109104842639
12Coventry CityCoventry29108113938138
13Queens Park RangersQPR2991193237-538
14Millwall29910102826237
15Preston North EndPreston2981383236-437
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2999113343-1036
17Swansea CitySwansea2997133240-834
18Cardiff CityCardiff29710123344-1131
19Hull City2978143038-829
20Stoke CityStoke29611122636-1029
21Portsmouth2978143652-1629
22Derby CountyDerby2976163240-827
23Luton TownLuton2975172948-1926
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth29410152762-3522


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!