WATFORD VS LIVERPOOL PREVIEW

skyports reports..

A 6-3 defeat at Anfield followed on from their FA Cup third round elimination to the same side and those on Merseyside that remain sceptical about the Spaniard have been given plenty of fuel for their argument in the past week.

However, prior to their cup crisis and Liverpool had been making improvements from early season inconsistencies and their manager will demand a maximum haul at Vicarage Road, well aware that Adrian Boothroyd's charges have picked up just three points from the last 27.

Defeat at Anfield came at a further cost as Luis Garcia suffered a serious knee injury that sees him sidelined for the next six months, whilst his possible replacement, Mark Gonzalez, also picked up a knock that will rule him out for three weeks.

Wholesale changes will be made to the young Liverpool side that failed to show its true credentials in midweek, with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher, Jose Reina, John Arne Riise and Daniel Agger all likely to be recalled.

Peter Crouch will also be vying for a recall, competing with Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Robbie Fowler for a place from the start.

Boothroyd has been busy in the January transfer window, with Lee Williamson and the exciting Will Hoskins (both signed from Rotherham) likely to feature at some stage to make Premiership bows - most probably from the bench.

Watford are further boosted by the return of captain Gavin Mahon after his recovery from a knock, while Tamas Priskin is also available after suspension.

The top flight strugglers are, though, unlikely to be able to call on Danny Shittu, a doubt with an ankle injury, as he joins more long-term casualties Hameur Bouazza (shoulder), Clarke Carlisle (thigh), James Chambers (leg) and Marlon King (knee) in a congested treatment room.

With Watford ten points adrift of Premiership safety Boothroyd will be drumming home the fact that points are needed quickly and for Liverpool, it is a case of a fast recovery required on the weekend after the night before.

louis'comments..

Back to the league, we can all forget all the painful experiences of the last 2 games. It's over and it's really important that the team move on from here. Whether did they move on, you just judge on their performance tomorrow.

Against Watford. Away from home and it's a slight worry for me. Although away form has improved, still, Liverpool can be fragile especially against a highly competitive team like Watford. Teams like Watford, when they are at home, they will give in their all in front of the home fans. They play every match as though it's their last. Nevertheless, by Liverpool's standards, it shouldn't be a problem for us to break down our opposition.

We should never be complacent and 3 points is a must. The league is long and we have to keep going and be consistent in our results. I think could remember those Roy Evans days, whereby we were so inconsistent and conceeding silly goals. Watford will be a challenging one, but I believe we could overcome it and take the 3 points.

you'll never walk alone..

cheers.

LIVERPOOL 2 WATFORD 0

Craig Bellamy and Xabi Alonso provided Liverpool's shivering fans with some pre-Christmas cheer as the Reds kicked off the busy festive period with a hard-earned 2-0 win over Watford on Saturday afternoon.

At a freezing Anfield, Bellamy and Alonso netted the goals, both in the second half, to stretch Liverpool's unbeaten run in the Premiership to an impressive seven games.

With a hectic schedule looming, it was important to get off to a winning start and, despite not firing on all cylinders at times, Rafa Benitez will be content to have taken maximum points from a fixture that has proved a potential banana-skin for the Reds in the past.

On their last league visit here the Hornets shocked the Kop by plundering a lone-goal victory but despite giving a good account of themselves this time around, any other result would have been an injustice to the home side.

Following a subdued opening the game came to life shortly before the 20-minute mark. Xabi Alonso tried his luck with a sweetly struck side-footer from outside the box that Ben Foster tipped around the post.

Then, moments later, Craig Bellamy rolled the ball across the face of an open goal only for Adrian Mariappa to sweep away the danger.

Foster was being kept busy and was soon in action again, diving low to his right to push out a long-range strike from Dirk Kuyt and being in the right place at the right time to spare Danny Shittu's blushes after the defender inadvertently directed a Bellamy cross towards his own goal.

At the opposite end Watford should have snatched the lead through Alhassan Bangura in the 38th minute. A rare mishap by Pepe Reina presented the youngster with a gilt-edged opportunity from six-yards out that he somehow squirmed over.

As the half drew to a close Daniel Agger stung the fingers of Foster with a blazing drive from distance that was too hot for the keeper to handle but Jermaine Pennant failed to capitalise and blazed the rebound high into the Kop.

Widespread relief swept around the ground when Bellamy finally opened the scoring two minutes after the restart. Gerrard slid the Welshman a perfect through ball from midfield and he held his nerve to net for the sixth time this season with a neat finish to Foster's left.



It was a deserved breakthrough for the Reds but a resilient Watford refused to meekly surrender. Ashley Young was just inches away from equalising with a header in front of the Kop midway through the half and the destiny of the spoils remained in the balance until the 88th minute.

Substitutes Mark Gonzalez and Peter Crouch had earlier both gone close to sealing the win before Alonso made sure with a spectacular curling shot from 25-yards out that nestled sweetly into the top corner.

Happy Christmas!



louis' commments..

it was not the best performance from liverpool at anfield. however, the team fought really hard and managed to get the win.

we found it difficult to score and break down opposition defence, and credit to watford, they really gave their all. in the early moments, they even threatened the goal and almost scored. luckily, they missed a glorious chance in front of goal. if that had gone in, the whole game will totally change.

as dominant as before at anfield, the team tried endlessly and was finding the right pass to break the persistent defence. gerrard and alonso was all over the park. bellamy was very active, running behind defences. i could sense the team's urgency even though they were not performing to the highest standard. that's what i really want to see in a team.

bellamy scored a good goal through gerrard bursting down the mifield and alonso added the second one in the dying minutes of the game to settle it all. 2 goals was good enough for us and 3 points are indeed essential with all the rest of the teams winning. we have to keep our form there so that, when our teams slip, we are able to cut down the points.

it's the christmas period and this's the time when teams are playing frequently. next up, blackburn. a tough tackling opposition. rafa should know that this period of time would actually determine how your season will be like in May. come on rafa, come on liverpool!

Merry Christmas!

you'll never walk alone.

cheers.