By Jordan Carreno

Matchday 28 sees the Reds head back to Anfield to take on Watford. Kick off is set for 3:00 PM EST on Wednesday.

Liverpool v Watford — 02/27/2019 2000 GMT

This is it, we’re headed into the final stretch of the Premier League and, against all expectations, Liverpool are top of the league still. As a supporters club we’ve yet to experience many title challenges heading into the final months of the season, so I recommend dropping everything you’re doing and joining in on the nerve wracking experience. This one will again be on the money grab that is NBC Gold, but have no fear as all 3 LFC Tampa Bay locations will be open and showing the match. With all that being said, let’s get into the talking points.

Correcting the Stumble

Though being top of the league at this point of the season is something that every Liverpool supporter, and any supporter of any of the other 19 clubs, undoubtedly would have asked for at the start of the season, it is hard to ignore that this Liverpool side haven’t been at their best since the turn of the year. That a seven point lead on January 1st has turned into a 1 point lead before the end of February is disappointing, especially considering the sides Liverpool have dropped points to.

Yes, this all could be going much more comfortably for Liverpool. Yes, we should have beaten the likes of Leicester and West Ham and we probably could have gotten more out of the United match given how it unfolded. Yes, we’ve made this more difficult for ourselves than it ever needed to be. However, even with the less than convincing form we’ve been in since the start of 2019, Liverpool are still top of the table.

The last 2 months have been frustrating, but Liverpool are still in the position they want to be in

The message coming out of the locker room after the match was important. The like of James Milner and Andy Robertson recognized that this squad have been underperforming in the last 2 months, but they were also quick to push the positives. The biggest of all being that we are still top of the league. That the players both understand their shortcomings whilst boasting their achievements is a sign of a team with the right mentality. Hopefully this mentality rubs off on the fan base.

In the moment, the temptation may be there to stew in the recent run of games and use it to paint the team as bottlers. Modern football is consumed and experienced in the moment and thusly the only perspective to view a team is in the small window of the last few matches. Mo Salah leading the league in scoring means very little if he didn’t score in his last game. Liverpool being top and on pace to finish with 90+ points, like only 6 other teams have done in the Premier League era, is irrelevant when they were on pace to finish with 100+. That the Reds still lead the league, on their own merits, is a distraction from the fact they could be leading by more.

Ultimately it is the team’s job quash the murmurs and earn themselves the title of Champions come the end of the season. Coming out Wednesday night and beating Watford comfortably will build the platform needed to help put this recent, subpar run in the rearview. There is still time to ensure this is merely a stumble rather than the full on collapse everyone is claiming. Now is the time for this Liverpool squad to find their form for this last push towards the title.

The Best of The Rest

Whilst it is a bit of a relief to be facing Watford off the back of a week featuring United and Bayern Munich, the Hornets shouldn’t be underestimated. They are currently seventh in the Premier League standings, and probably in the middle of their best Premier League season ever. So, whilst they might not be one of the “Big 6”, on current form they are the best of the rest.

As things currently stand, Watford are tied for the 6th best defensive record in the league having allowed 35 goals. This is a tally that is better than Arsenal and level with Manchester United. On top of that, they have managed to keep seven clean sheets this season with Ben Foster in goal. This once again has them tied for the 6th best in the league and has Foster level with names like De Gea, Rui Patrico, and Schmeichel. Though neither of these two numbers are necessarily stellar, they do speak to the fact that Watford are not a side to be underestimated.

Even further, Watford also boast the best scoring record for teams outside the top 6. As thing stand, their 39 goals thus far is better than any other team outside the top 6. Unsurprisingly Troy Deeney is the leading scorer with 7, but is closely followed by the likes of Deulofeu and Pereyra who are both on 6. In fact, Watford boast a total of 13 goalscorers in the Premier League this season, a number which is equal to Liverpool.

Watford are a side we should be confident of beating, but they won’t be a pushover. They have a more than capable back line and have the options going forward to score the goals. They aren’t the toughest game on our remaining fixture list, but Wednesday night will be a real test of the resolve of this Liverpool side.

All Together Now

Now if the time for Liverpool’s attack, Mo included, to rediscover their form

A few games back I spent some time talking about the Liverpool backline losing some of the defensive stoutness which saw us flying in the first half of the season. Now that the side have managed to pick up 3 clean sheets in the last 3 matches, it seems our slight defensive issues have been alleviated. However, with Liverpool only scoring multiple goals in 2 of the 9 matches since the turn of the year, and having gone scoreless in the last two matches, it might be time to focus on the other end of the pitch.

Though I would personally take 11 1–0 wins in our last 11 matches of the league, it would be an unrealistic expectation for this Liverpool side to keep the rest of our remaining opponents from scoring. At some point Liverpool need to rediscover their goal scoring form. If the Reds are going to push on and win the league title they will have to start getting in amongst the goals again.

Part of this sputtering up front may come down to the stop start nature of our fixtures in the last few months as we have had 2 chances to go on warm weather training trips. It is hard to get into any real form when you’re going 10 days without playing twice in the space of 3 weeks. However, with the games coming thick and fast, now is the time to rediscover some of that verve going forward.

For Liverpool’s title ambitions to be met it is going to require every part of this team playing at a high level. Though at some parts of this season the back line has carried us to victory, and at others the front 3 has carried us, the Reds now need to all come together and start playing as near to their best as possible. Hopefully these last 11 games see Liverpool firing on all cylinders.

Prediction

We are again sticking to the domestic table where I’ve cushioned my lead even more. Though neither David nor myself were able to predict the outcome of the United clash correctly, I did manage to sneak a point for predicting a clean sheet. I now lead 36–32.

I’m not quite sure what to expect from this match in regards to how Jurgen decides to set up. Part of me thinks on the back of two 0–0 draws Klopp will want to really go for it and send a message. Plus it isn’t outrageous to think that Watford, like most teams, will come to Anfield looking to defend for their lives. The best way to take advantage of this will be with the 4–2–3–1.

I also think with Bobby due for a sit following his injury that this gives a chance for Shaq to come back into the line up and show what he is worth. His last few appearances off the bench have been a bit underwhelming, but he hasn’t really been afforded the time to make a real impact in those games. This move sees Salah move up front and I think we see Klopp decide to use Keita in the number 10 role that Bobby would normally take up. Given how tired Gini was at full time and how early Henderson was subbed off, I think we see Fab and Hendo in the midfield positions.

This was the same fixture last season that Mo put 4 in. I don’t think he will match his output but I wouldn’t be surprised if he bags a brace. It will be tough work in the early going, but once we break them down we begin to work ourselves into our top form. 3–0.

David’s Prediction: I am going to fully back us to get back to winning ways for a couple reasons. First, Watford have not fared well against the Reds in recent years, winning just one of their last 11 against us. Additionally, they haven’t won at Anfield in 20 years and Mo Salah kind of has a thing for Watford, having scored six goals and notching two assists against them in three meetings. I’m going to back him to continue this, as Watford become for Salah what Norwich was for Suarez. He bags a hat trick and sets up a fourth for Mane. 4–0 to the Reds and we march into the derby feeling significantly better than we did coming out of Old Trafford.