Liverpool welcome Watford to Anfield for their final Premier League game before Christmas as top host bottom in what on paper looks likely to be a one-sided contest.

Jurgen Klopp's side are eight points clear at the top of the table and have won 24 of their last 25 Premier League games, and victory on Saturday lunchtime would temporarily extend their advantage ahead of their trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup next week.

The Reds have a particularly fearsome record at home to the Hornets in recent times too, but Watford could prove to be a banana skin as they look to make a fast start under new boss Nigel Pearson.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for the contest.

Out: Joel Matip (knee), Nathaniel Clyne (knee), Fabinho (ankle), Dejan Lovren (thigh)
Doubtful: Adam Lallana (muscle)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Dejan Lovren limped off early for the second game in a row against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night and this injury is more serious than the last, meaning that Joe Gomez will be handed a start alongside Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool only two remaining fit centre-backs.

Van Dijk scored twice in this fixture last season while Liverpool as a whole have scored more headed goals alone than Watford have scored in total this season, so the backline will be optimistic of keeping their first Anfield clean sheet of the campaign.

Injuries to Joel Matip, Fabinho and Nathaniel Clyne do limit Klopp's options as far as rotation is concerned, though, with the main bulk of the changes expected to come further upfield.

Liverpool fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation in their last home game against a team in the relegation zone, and that worked well as they brushed Everton aside in the Merseyside derby earlier this month.

It is a system which the Reds regularly switch to during matches as well, and with at least one of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane likely to be rested, they could go with it from the start this weekend as Divock Origi looks to lead the line.

Watford will be hoping that as many of the usual front three as possible sit out given that Salah has directly contributed to seven goals in four games against them, Mane eight goals in five games and Firmino eight in six.

Liverpool's fringe players have stepped up to the plate in recent weeks and so Klopp will not be hesitant to throw them in again against a team they are expected to beat, with the likes of Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner among those pushing for a start.

Adam Lallana should be in contention after missing the last two games, meaning that captain Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum could be given the day off.