Watford v Liverpool: match preview

Claudio Ranieri begins his mission to keep Watford up with the awkward task of keeping Liverpool at bay. Mohamed Salah is in scintillating form as he aims to score in an eighth successive league game for the first time while Sadio Mané has extra incentive as he chases his 100th Premier League goal. The likelihood of a shutout from Watford looks even more unlikely when their last in the top flight came a distant 17 games ago. But it was against Jürgen Klopp’s side in a rather exciting 3-0 win that ended Liverpool’s record 44-game unbeaten streak in February 2020. Ranieri needs to be aggressive and attempt to exploit Alisson and Fabinho missing out but getting into a shootout with Liverpool is often asking for trouble. Graham Searles

Saturday 12.30pm BT Sport 1

Venue Vicarage Road

Last season n/a

Referee Jon Moss

This season G5 Y11 R1 2.4 cards/game

Odds H 43-5 A 1-3 D 9-2

WATFORD

Subs from Elliot, Fletcher, Baah, Pedro, Masina, Gosling, Louza, Hernández, Bachmann, King, Femenía, Cleverley

Doubtful King (knee)

Injured Sierralta (hamstring, 30 Oct), Nkoulou (match fitness, Nov), Etebo (quadricep, Mar), Kabasele (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Discipline Y17 R0

Form LLLWDL

Leading scorer Sarr 4

LIVERPOOL

Subs from Adrián, Davies, Gomez, N Williams, Phillips, Konaté, Tsimikas, Thiago, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota, Origi, Minamino

Doubtful Thiago (calf)

Injured Jones (groin, 24 Oct), Elliott (ankle, unknown)

Suspended None

Unavailable Alisson, Fabinho (both international duty)

Discipline Y9 R0

Form WDWWDD

Leading scorer Salah 6