Watford host Liverpool in the early game today, as the Hornets look to win back to back home games in the Premier League for the first time in their history.
Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo continue to flourish in attacking positions, creating a partnership the Reds can only dream of currently with their frontline. Daniel Sturridge’s continue absence means the burden falls to Christian Benteke, though the big Belgian has not yet wholly convinced.
Mamadou Sako returns for the first time in six weeks, coming into a Liverpool side who have won their last five games against today’s opponents. Jurgen Klopp will be looking to continue that trend without both James Milner and Dejan Lovren, who miss out with injuries.
The Hornets have surprised us all this season, and incredibly, would be top of the league if games finished at half-time this season with 27 points.
Unfortunately, they don’t, but here are SEVEN facts you need to know about Watford vs Liverpool.
RECORD BREAKER, HISTORY MAKER
Odion Ighalo, one of the success stories of the season, has already become the first ever Watford player to notch 10 goals in a Premier League season.
The Nigerian forward has an impressive 26 goals in the calendar year and is taking to the Premier League like a duck to water.
Interestingly, the 26-year old has had more shots on target from inside the box than ANYONE else in the Premier League this season, with 15 attempts.
Crucial Coutinho
It’s clear that Philippe Coutinho is perhaps Liverpool’s best player when fit after emerging as a top drawer talent since the departures of Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling.
The Reds are a completely different outfit without the vast talents the Brazilian brings to the side. In fact, they have scored just 2 goals in the 3 Premier League games he has missed this season.
That brings their otherwise pretty reasonable average of 1.4 goals per match when he does play, down to just 0.7 a game when he misses out.
DEFYING THE ODDS
Touted by many as a side bound for a relegation scrap, Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores has managed to create a team that’s hard to beat but full of attacking intent.
Only a significant implode could currently drag Watford into a battle to stay up this season. They will take heart from the fact not one of the ten promoted teams to have won at least 25 points during the opening 16 games of the season have ever been relegated.
While nothing is certain in this Premier League, a betting man would surely back the Vicarage Road outfit to stay up.
WATER TIGHT AND SLIGHT FRIGHT
The game today will see two contrasting backlines square off against each other. While the visitors started well, they have only kept two clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games.
On the other hand, Watford have kept an impressive seven in the league this term, second only to Manchester United. Their ability to shut teams out give the likes of Troy Deeney and the aforementioned Ighalo every opportunity to poach a sneaky goal in order to win games.
29 YEARS OF HURT
Despite their recent run of good form, Watford have not enjoyed much success over today’s opponents historically. The last time they won against the Reds at home was waaaay back in 1986, when they downed them 2-0.
Funnily enough, a young John Barnes scored one of the goals that saw the Hornets record a famous win over the then titans of English football. He went on to make a pretty good go of things for Liverpool.
WHAT A PAIR
Liverpool know a pretty good strike duo when they see one, having a rich history in deadly attackers. They, of all teams, will respect the fine work of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo then.
While they weren’t the most glamourous of names at the start of the season, and Deeney took a while to get off the mark, the pair have been excellent ever since.
While the Nigerian takes most of the plaudits because of his finishing acumen, the interplay between the two is remarkable. Club captain Deeney has shown what an excellent footballer he is this season, sometimes dropping deeper to tee up his teammate.
The duo have created 29 for one and other this term, more than any other combination in the top tier.
ROOM TO MANEUVER
As impressive as the home side have been this season, Liverpool can be encouraged by the fact they seem to struggle when coming from behind at Vicarage Road.
Their previously mentioned ability to shut teams out is all well and good, though when they are breached, it can sometimes be a knockout blow.
Despite only conceding in three home games this term, they have ended up losing all three of those games.