Football News: Liverpool v Watford - A Liverpool Perspective

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Liverpool v Watford

Back to the old routine of demolishing teams, after a real struggle to create against Man Utd last time out. Watford got caught, like others have, by having a back 3 to face up to Liverpool's front 3 and so ended up at times one on one with players they had no hope of dealing with. Javi Gracia got it completely wrong and had no idea of how to change things to get it right.

An early goal helped, not because it made them come out more, but because it made the game feel safer and the atmosphere around the ground took on a party atmosphere. The Hornets looked like a team that have nothing to play for, they are safe from relegation and have no chance of European football, so there is little to play for. No motivation showed in their play, as the likes of Deeney just strolled around, rather than throwing his rotund bulk around attempting to put some pressure on.

It did mean the game ended up being a stroll in the park for LFC, with little need to really work up a sweat to pick up the 3 points and little worry of shedding their clean sheet. A great result and performance to match.

Klopp - not sure what to say about him, it was such a simple game for him. Though it was a good move to put Ings on as it lifted the game just as it was drifting.

Karius - must have been freezing, as he was a spectator in t-shirt and shorts on a bitterly cold day!

Gomez - another misjudgement of a long diagonal ball going over his head aside, he had a good game dealing with a wideman and wing back. Though he was not really put under any kind of consistent pressure to test him defensively, he was able to provide a fair bit of support to the attack.

Matip - the match up of Matip against Deeney looked to be a real problem but Watford never got the ball to their front man so Matip was not really pushed. He did clear a cross dangerously with the wrong foot, going with his stronger foot when it should have been just dealt with by his left. A couple of other little errors too, but nothing major to worry about as there was so little pressure applied by Watford.

van Dijk - much better from him after the disaster last time out. Again though, he was under little pressure defensively and so was able to saunter through the game with the cigars out.

Robertson - good performance, though he did get a bit caught up at times by not knowing who to close down, the wingback or the winger. However he has so much energy he was almost able to do both! Played an excellent cross, after looking up, to create one of the goals as well. He is very raw but there is a player there to be developed and moulded into a really top class full back with good coaching.

Henderson - decent enough game. A few good passes but never really took full control of the game like he should do. Having said that, there was not really any need for him to do any more as it was such an easy win and Watford made it so easy in midfield.

Can - poor to be perfectly honest. He was doing some nice things, only to make an error and lose the ball. It is all too common with him, lots of little flashes of quality followed by a very sloppy turn over of the ball. He might have been able to get his head right but he picked up an injury and had to go off with less than 30 minutes played.

Wijnaldum - is he quietly effective or quietly ineffective? That seems to be the argument with him as everything he does passes under the radar to a large degree. Unfortunately he is more often quietly ineffective this season, but yesterday was more effective than ineffective. It was a much better game from him, he put himself about, but it is still not enough. He needs to impose himself on a game more.

Salah - what can you say about Salah that has not already been said? The very fact that some people are even comparing him to Messi tells you a lot. He was excellent, even showed he has a right foot for more than standing on as he used it to score. Not just once either, but twice. Three excellent goals and then a final one that he almost apologetic for as he had tried so hard to set up Ings. Sensational.

Mane - excellent, despite not scoring. He was everywhere, getting involved, dragging defenders about, creating space and made a great run to play the ball to Salah to notch his hat trick, even though he could have gone for it himself. A proper team performance.

Firmino - once again he was excellent, though he did make a few errors, he is always there to chase it down and get it back. And yet another goal.

Subs:

Milner - was the replacement for the injured Can in the 27th minute and ran his socks off, as ever, did some good things and generally had a James Milner archetypal performance. In other words lots of hard work, little end product and very rarely anywhere near the centre of midfield as he looked to get out on the wings. I really do not understand why he says he no longer wants to be a wide player when he spends his entire game running out wide!

Oxlade-Chamberlain - came on in the 71st minute in place of Wijnaldum and he was a lot more visible. Offered more though he was not at his best.

Ings - his arrival in the 79th minute in place of Firmino gave the Kop a huge lift and everyone was willing him to score. The whole team did their best to get the ball through to him but it just was not going to go in for him, but his parried shot allowed Salah to put in his 4th.

Written by Tris Burke March 18 2018 15:49:21