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| Image via thisisanfield.com |
Liverpool prepare to face Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday in the last fixture for the Reds before Christmas Day. Jurgen Klopp's side just about managed to collect a point against West Bromwich Albion last weekend and will be looking for a more convincing result this time out.
Injuries for Liverpool mean Dejan Lovren will be unavailable. Also out is James Milner who has picked up a calf problem and of course Klopp is still unable to call upon Daniel Sturridge. For Watford, both Hoban and Gilmartin are injured long term and there are doubts hanging over Behrami and Prodl who will be subject to late fitness tests.
At present, Watford are 7th in the table on a total of 25 points, Liverpool are sitting just behind in 9th but a win would take them above the Hornets. Form wise, the Reds have won three out of their last six fixtures in the league whilst Watford have picked up four wins over the same period and have not lost in their last three.
The last time the two sides met was in January 2007 when Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch got themselves on the scoresheet in a 3-0 win for the Reds. Both sides have faced each other on six occasions in all competitions since 1999 with Watford winning just once. The match in August 1999 ended 1-0 after Tommy Mooney found a winner for the Hornets at 14 minutes.
Stat Sandwich
- Liverpool have only kept two clean sheets in their last 13 league games.
- If league matches had ended at half time this season, Watford would be top of the league.
- The Reds have collected 12 points in eight games under Jurgen Klopp so far this season.
I think it's going to be a difficult game for us on Sunday. Watford have been playing some good football and coupled with a decent run of form I think they will be well up for a clash with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool this weekend. The plus side for the Reds of course is that they have been playing far better away from home but this could also be dependent on the line up selected by Jurgen who has new injuries to contend with.
Betting
Most bookies are offering evens for the Liverpool win on Sunday whilst Watford are around 3/1.
If you fancy Divock Origi to continue scoring, you can get him at 6/1 with Coral for first goalscorer. Philippe Coutinho is down with Bet Victor at 7/1 for the same bet.
In terms of scorelines, most bookies are offering 8/1 for a 2-1 Liverpool win, however if you think the game is going to end in a draw you can get 2-2 at 18/1 with bet365.
Finally, the influential Troy Deeney is down as 2/1 with Sky Bet to score at anytime during the game.