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Attendance: 53,163
Liverpool logo
Premier League
Nov 6, 2016 at 2.15pm UK
 
Watford logo

6-1

Mane (27', 60'), Coutinho (30'), Can (43'), Firmino (57'), Wijnaldum (91')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Janmaat (75')

Live Commentary: Liverpool 6-1 Watford - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Liverpool's 6-1 victory over Watford in the Premier League.
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Liverpool have continued their hot streak in front of goal with a 6-1 victory over Watford.

Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can all bagged strikes in the first half before Roberto Firmino and a second for Mane put Liverpool five goals ahead before the hour mark.

Daryl Janmaat scored a consolation goal for Watford before Georginio Wijnaldum capped an outstanding performance from Jurgen Klopp's side as they moved to the top of the Premier League table.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Anfield.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Liverpool and Watford.

We are being treated to five Premier League fixtures on this bitterly cold Sunday afternoon and this one features two of the form sides in the division. Liverpool have not suffered defeat in the league since losing to Burnley in August while Watford have won four of their last seven games in the league. It should be an intriguing contest at Anfield.

Before we bring you the teams from Merseyside, let me point you in the direction of the North London derby. Harry Kane has just netted from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium and with 30 minutes still remaining, you are advised to keep up-to-date with the closing stages via our live commentary.

Anyway, back to this game and let's see how Jurgen Klopp and Walter Mazzarri have selected for this afternoon's encounter.

LIVERPOOL XI: Karius; Clyne, Lucas, Matip, Milner; Henderson, Can, Lallana; Mane, Coutinho, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Ejaria, Origi, Sturridge

WATFORD XI: Gomes; Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Amrabat, Behrami, Capoue, Pereyra; Deeney, Ighalo

WATFORD SUBSTITUTES: Pantilimon, Mariappa, Kabasele, Zuniga, Watson, Guedioura, Sinclair

First of all, let's take a look at the Liverpool side with Klopp opting to make two alterations from the team which defeated Crystal Palace last weekend. Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno are the players to drop out with Lucas Leiva and James Milner the duo who return to the side. Loris Kariius remains in goal with Simon Mignolet having to make do with a place on the bench.

As for Watford, Mazzarri makes just the one change from the narrow triumph over Hull City and it's an enforced one too. Sebastian Prodl suffered a muscle injury against the Tigers so Darryl Janmaat is able to make his first start since recovering from an injury he suffered on September 18. Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo both remain in attack despite neither of them scoring since October 1.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents just the 27th time that these two teams have met in a competitive fixture. Unsurprisingly, Liverpool have registered the bulk of the wins - 18 to be precise - with Watford picking up five. There's only been three draws and we've not had one in the last 13 games. The stalemate is 5/1...

When you take a look at the form table, you will see that Liverpool top it with 16 points from six games but if you judge things over the last four games, both Liverpool and Watford are unbeaten with the Reds having only registered two points more than the visitors. Watford started the season with a tough run of fixtures so they deserve credit for the way they have turned things around since August.

Sounds like Walter Mazzarri has been putting a lot of thought into his team selection.



It's only been six months since these two teams last met at Anfield. It came at a time when Quique Sanchez Flores was struggling to get the best out of his side and they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat thanks to goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino. The Hornets will be confident of performing better than that today.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at the Emirates Stadium and it has ended in a 1-1 draw. It's a result which probably suits Spurs more so than Arsenal and the stalemate also has ramifications for this game. You can catch our on-the-whistle report from North London by clicking here.

With Arsenal only gaining a point, it means that Liverpool can move to the top of the Premier League table with victory this afternoon. With Arsenal and Manchester City both slipping up at home - and after holding one-goal leads - Liverpool need to seize moments like this if they really want to mount a title challenge this season.

PREDICTION! We have to go with Liverpool for this one but we think they will be pushed far more than they have previously at home this season. Watford will only take confidence from registering three clean sheets in a row but given the amount of chances that Liverpool create, it's hard not to see them taking at least one at some stage in the match. We are going for a 2-1 win for the home side.

If Watford can pull off a surprise win in the North-West, they will sit just three points off a place in the top five which was almost unthinkable a couple of months. They've already lost games against Arsenal and Chelsea but they did defeat Manchester United 3-1 and that has given them the belief to kick on over the last few weeks.

The two teams are out at Anfield to the usual anthem of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'. Liverpool certainly aren't these days. They have 50,000 supporters all pulling in the same direction under Jurgen Klopp.

After a false start, we are underway at the second time of asking.

Not a lot to report from the opening few minutes. Everything is being fiercely contested in the middle of the park but neither side have been able to establish any momentum.

Liverpool look much more patient in possession than they usually do. There's not much emphasis on pressing Watford but the Hornets aren't exactly hanging about when they have the ball in their own final third.

CHANCE! Firmino would have expected to do better with that. Coutinho got down the left before whipping a cross towards his Brazilian compatriot. However, he didn't make proper contact with his volley and Gomes was able to make the easy save.

A wayward back-pass from Kaboul leads to Liverpool winning their first corner of the match but Coutinho's delivery beats everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

Liverpool are having the better of the play but Amrabat is having his moments in the final third for Watford. He's already had a shot from distance hit the target and a clever pass into the box just miss its intended target.

CHANCE! A towering header from Lucas is not something you write every day but that's what I am writing here. The defender got above the defender to meet a Milner free kick but he was only able to glance his effort wide of the post.

CHANCE! Lucas has not scored in his last 183 Premier League starts for Liverpool but he should have broken the streak here. The ball fell invitingly to him at the back post but he could only fire his shot straight at Gomes from close range. He'll never have a better opportunity than that!

Coutinho cannons the ball off the crossbar from eight yards but he is adjudged offside anyway. Still, should have scored.

CHANCE! Liverpool are starting to run rings around Watford. A Mane pass to Coutinho sees the Brazilian wrong-foot the defender with his first touch before firing wide of the near post from 10 yards. Again, he should be scoring that. Liverpool well on top now.

SHOT! Milner's the next Liverpool player to get a shot on goal but a low effort with his weaker left foot is easily saved by Gomes.

CHANCE! Coutinho has been sensational in these opening 24 minutes and another sublime pass finds the run of Firmino. However, the attacker cannot take advantage and pokes his shot wide of the near post.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Watford (Mane)

It was coming, wasn't it? Liverpool take a deserved lead at Anfield through Mane. After a quick corner, Coutinho curled a cross towards the near post and Mane was there to flick a header into the far corner from 10 yards. It's a terrific goal and Liverpool are putting in another terrific performance.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Watford (Coutinho)

We are seeing one of the best individual performances of the season from Coutinho. After receiving a pass from Firmino, he took one touch before lashing a low 20-yard drive past Gomes, who looks injured and is going to be replaced by Pantilimon.

We are seeing the difference in levels of the Premier League today. Watford had kept three clean sheets in a row before this game but they are being taken apart by a relentless attacking unit who are showing no signs of faltering.

Mazzarri has much to ponder at the break. They are playing some good stuff in patches but they have absolutely no answer to Liverpool's attacks. First and foremost, they need to get to the break without conceding again or else it could get ugly.

Mane fouls Pereyra on the left flank and Watford have the opportunity to get their big men into the box. The delivery into the box is decent enough but Karius comes out to punch and the threat is over.

GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Watford (Can)

It's all so easy for Liverpool. Lallana breaks down the right flank and under no pressure from a Watford defender, he crosses to the back post where Can is able to head into the bottom corner, also under no pressure. Game over.

SHOT! Watford go straight on the offensive through Capoue but his low strike is comfortably saved by Karius.

SAVE! Milner attempts to catch Pantilimon out with a free kick from an acute angle but the Romanian stopper is equal to it to tip the shot over the crossbar. There will be four minutes of added-on time.

Mazzarri looks like a man out of ideas on the touchline. You wouldn't like to be in that dressing room at half time.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Watford

The half-time whistle goes at Anfield and Liverpool are cantering to another three points in the Premier League. Mane, Coutinho and Can have all gotten on the scoresheet and it would be a surprise if others don't join them. They have been sensational.

We are all ready to go in the second half. No changes for either side.

Liverpool get us back underway.

SHOT! Watford have made a bright start to the second half but as soon as possession was turned over, Liverpool were straight back onto the attack. The first chance fell to Coutinho but he couldn't get enough bend on his shot from 25 yards.

SHOT! It's been a relatively quiet start to the second half but Henderson almost finds a bit of magic inside the penalty area, only to see his placed half-volley clear the crossbar.

Watford have barely moved out of their own half over the past five or six minutes. It's very much back-to-the-walls stuff and it looks a case of when, not if, they score their fourth.

BOOKING! Jose Holebas is the first man into the book after a crude challenge on Mane on the byline. There's been another goal...

GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Watford (Firmino)

There it is - a fourth goal for Liverpool. Lallana drills a cross across the six-yard box and Firmino is there to tap home from close range. This could end up being a cricket score.

GOAL! Liverpool 5-0 Watford (Mane)

Dear oh dear. Watford have absolutely capitulated at Anfield. Firmino does superb down the right-hand side of the penalty area and after he puts the ball on a plate for Mane, he can't miss. This is getting really ugly for Watford.

SUBSTITUTION! This is a bit harsh on Mane. He is now being brought off by Klopp before he can complete his hat-trick. Georginio Wijnaldum is on in his place.

Things have quietened down again now. The big incentive for Liverpool is to try to keep a clean sheet. They haven't been that forthcoming over the last weeks.

SHOT! Great save from Karius! Capoue sizes up the bottom corner with his long-range strike but the goalkeeper gets across to beat the ball away.

SAVE! Karius now keeps out Britos's flick with a neat save down to his left! Much better from Watford.

SUBSTITUTION! Klopp decides to change things up again and introduces Sturridge into the action for Lallana. The forward is still looking for his first Premier League goal of the season.

CHANCE! How hasn't Capoue scored here?! A terrific pass from Deeney finds the Frenchman all alone in the penalty area but he hits his shot at the legs of Karius who makes another fantastic block.

GOAL! Liverpool 5-1 Watford (Janmaat)

Liverpool can't hang on for the clean sheet. Klopp will be furious! It's a decent goal too with Amrabat playing the ball inside to Janmaat who slides a shot into the bottom corner with his left foot.

WOODWORK! It's hard to keep up with this match! Sturridge tries his luck from around 15 yards out but his left-footed strike hits the crossbar and goes behind.

BOOKING! Britos goes into the book for a foul in the corner. It was pretty similar to the challenge which Holebas got cautioned for earlier.

Liverpool are still pushing for a sixth goal but they are being met by a Watford side who I think have settled for the one consolation goal that they have already got.

CHANCE! What a miss from Coutinho. A good cross from Clyne finds the playmaker but his first-time strike goes high into the Kop. He has now been withdrawn so that Ovie Ejaria can make his Premier League debut.

WOODWORK! Sturridge can't do much more to find his first Premier League goal of the season. Less than 10 minutes after hitting the woodwork, he does the same again but this time, it came from a 25-yard curler which Pantilimon got fingertips to. It's probably one of the saves of the season.

GOAL! Liverpool 6-1 Watford (Wijnaldum)

Liverpool have the sixth and Wijnaldum is the man who has got it. Sturridge's shot was parried by Pantilimon but the ball fell to Wijnaldum who took his time before converting the rebound.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 6-1 Watford

The full-time whistle goes at Anfield and it's another memorable afternoon for Liverpool who run out convincing winners at Anfield. It's a result which sees Klopp's side go top of the table and on this performance, it's where they could be come the end of the season.

That will be from Sports Mole for this match. Thank for you joining us this afternoon and we hope you can stick around for the fixtures we have ongoing and coming up for you later. Goodbye for now.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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