Liverpool travel to Vicarage Road on Saturday when they face Watford in the eight gameweek of the Premier League. Liverpool come off a thrilling draw against Manchester City in their last game of the Premier League while Watford faced their fourth defeat of the season against Leeds United away from home. Liverpool last met Watford when the Hornets won 3-0 to end their 44 game unbeaten run and also their 18 game winning streak.
Liverpool have scored the most number of goals in the league with 17 goals from seven matches. They have the highest overall xG and also have an xG of 2.31 per 90 minutes. In their last game against Manchester City, Liverpool showed that even if the flow of the game is against them for a whole half, they can still come back to score a goal and put the opposition team under pressure.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line for a Liverpool return on Saturday at Watford. The right-back missed the games against Porto and Manchester City before the international break with a groin issue and was left out of the England squad as a result. Milner deputised in place of the 23-year-old against Porto and City as the Reds followed up the 5-1 win in the Champions League with a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on October 3. Alexander-Arnold has created the most number of chances for Liverpool and has the highest expected assists from the crosses and final balls that he has played into the final third. But there are chances that it will be James Milner who will once again feature as their right back if Klopp rests his regular right-back for the midweek Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.
Claudio Ranieri has been appointed as the new Watford manager on a two-year deal. The 69-year-old replaces Xisco Muñoz, who was sacked after the 1-0 defeat by Leeds at the weekend, leaving the club 15th in the Premier League with two wins from seven games. But the visit of Liverpool, and upcoming clashes with Arsenal and Manchester United, means there will be little time for Ranieri to settle down into his third stint in the Premier League.
Watford were able to create a threat on the opposition defence with the passes they attempted but failed to be clinical in front of goal and were not able to convert the chances they created. Femenia had the highest xT from the crosses that he attempted from the right flank into the penalty area.
A new manager bounce, coupled with a few key absentees for the visitors, could turn this into a memorable afternoon for Watford. But Liverpool have been in hot goalscoring form of late and should rise to this challenge. Liverpool though will be the favourites going into this tie because their high pressing style really makes them a formidable opposition.
Predicted line-up for Liverpool
Alisson, James Milner, Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Curtis Jones, Jordan Henderson, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota.
