Premier League football is back with Liverpool travelling to Vicarage Road for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off against Watford. While not many Reds enjoy international breaks, the time off was a chance to get some options back to full fitness ahead of another busy league schedule.
With Chelsea facing a tough test away at Brentford later in the day, a win for Liverpool will apply maximum pressure as we jostle for position at the Premier League summit.
Alisson and Fabinho will miss this one with Brazil duty proving problematic once more. For Jurgen Klopp, it’s a matter of adapting to frustrating circumstances to gain an important three points.
Here’s how we should line up:
Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in training and should be fit for this one. While it wasn’t the defence’s best performance against Man City, Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip remain the two best options in the middle. I’ve gone with Andy Robertson on the left but I wouldn’t be disappointed to see Kostas Tsimikas start either.
The midfield picks itself with Thiago not back to full fitness and both of Curtis Jones and Fabinho unavailable. Jordan Henderson starts in the six behind Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And the classic front three of Sadio Mane, Bobby Firmino and Mo Salah complete the side. There’s no need to risk Diogo Jota if he isn’t 100%.
The Reds have been firing on all cylinders of late which should see a pragmatic Watford emerge from the tunnel. Some changes and the break could disrupt our rhythm but it’s got to be a comfortable enough three points on the day.
Score prediction: Watford 0 – 2 Liverpool
