Watford vs Liverpool. Premier League.
Vicarage RoadAttendance20,707.
Sunday 20 December 2015 13:39, UK
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Liverpool will be without James Milner for the trip to Watford after the midfielder picked up a calf injury.
The Hornets have won their last three league games, the first time they have won three in a row in the Premier League, but face a punishing fixture list over Christmas that begins with the visit of Klopp's side.
Between December 20 and January 2, Watford host Tottenham and Manchester City and face a trip to Chelsea, a run that will test their excellent recent form.
As for Liverpool, Klopp will be looking to put his spat with West Brom boss Tony Pulis behind him and get the Reds back on track.
They have drawn two and lost one since their 6-1 Capital One Cup victory over Southampton in early December, and find themselves one point behind Sunday's opponents at kick-off.
Team news
Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has no fresh concerns. Midfielder Valon Behrami and defender Sebastian Prodl could both make their returns from injury, but defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) remain sidelined.
Milner will miss the trip to Vicarage Road after undergoing a scan on his calf problem, while Dejan Lovren could be an option to face Leicester on Boxing Day, but is not available this weekend.
The defender was carried off on a stretcher against the Baggies following a tackle from Craig Gardner, but could return to training as early as next week.
Mamadou Sakho and Jon Flanagan took part in training on Friday, and the former may be called into action against Watford in Lovren's absence.
Opta stats
Watford have never won back-to-back home games in the Premier League.
Liverpool have won eight and lost just one of the last nine meetings with Watford in all competitions, including their last four trips to Vicarage Road.
Watford have only conceded in three of their home league games this season, but they have lost on each of these occasions.
If league matches ended at half-time this season, Watford would be top of the league with 27 points.
Odion Ighalo has scored a higher proportion of his team's league goals this season than any other player (56 per cent - 10 of 18).
Liverpool have scored just two goals in the three Premier League games that Philippe Coutinho has missed this season (0.7 per game), compared to an average of 1.4 goals per game with him in the side.
Troy Deeney and Ighalo have created 29 goalscoring chances for one another in the Premier League this season; more than any other combination.
Paul Merson's prediction
This will be a good game, but which Liverpool will show up? It's when they play against teams like Watford and West Brom, who are going to keep it tight, that's when they struggle.
When they play against the bigger boys the game is allowed to open up a bit and that is where Klopp's side are stronger, when the onus isn't necessarily on them.
I don't think they've got enough of that killer, eye of a needle ball-player. Watford have been great - they're very hard to beat, and I'll go with a 1-1 draw, which is a huge compliment to Watford, with Ighalo scoring. I'd be so shocked if he stays there beyond January, surely someone will sign him.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Watford are underdogs with Sky Bet ahead of their Super Sunday clash with even-money shots Liverpool with the draw trading at 12/5. The Hornets head into the match after three successive Premier League victories and are 11/4 to make it four against Klopp's men.
They defend a solid record at Vicarage Road, with five clean sheets in their eight matches, and are 3/1 not to concede against the Reds. In fact in their last six home games goals have been at a premium and it's 8/11 for under 2.5 goals. Odion Ighalo is 15/8 to score for a fourth successive match and Price Boosted to 8/1 (from 9/2) to score in a Watford win. Coutinho is also Price Boosted to 9/2 score in a Liverpool win and he's Phil Thompson's pick to score first in a 1-0 win for the visitors at 22/1. Bet here.
