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As it happenedended

Watford vs Liverpool: Result and reaction from Premier League fixture

All the reaction from the extraordinary game at Vicarage Road

Michael Jones
Saturday 29 February 2020 20:30 GMT
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Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring Watford's first goal
Ismaila Sarr celebrates scoring Watford's first goal (Getty Images)

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Liverpool's unbeaten run of success in this season's Premier League was ended in unfathomable fashion on Saturday as struggling Watford hammered the European champions 3-0 at their ecstatic Vicarage Road stadium.

Ismaila Sarr inspired the extraordinary upset, stunning Liverpool with two goals in six second-half minutes before he set up captain Troy Deeney with a third for the team who had started the day one from bottom, 55 points behind the runaway leaders.

Liverpool's first league defeat of the season meant the end of their hopes of going the whole league campaign as unbeaten as the new 'Invincibles' after 44 league matches without a defeat.

It also came on the evening when they were expected to surpass champions Manchester City by creating a new English top-flight record of 19 successive league victories.

The setback will doubtless not stop Juergen Klopp's men going on to lift their first English title for 30 years as they still remain 22 points ahead of their nearest pursuers, yet their season's aura of domestic invincibility has now been demolished.

Liverpool had previously dropped only two points in the league this season -- their draw at Manchester United in October -- but from the start, Watford attacked them with unexpected vigour.

Watford had looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first half with Gerard Deulofeu proving Liverpool's main tormentor before he was taken off by stretcher with a knee injury.

Yet it was only when Sarr struck twice just before the hour mark and then turned provider for Deeney to shoot home a third that the 'mission impossible' became a reality.

How to watch

Which TV channel is it on?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, and HD channels.

Can I stream the game online?

Sky Sports subscribers can watch the game via the Sky Sports website and the Sky Go app.

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

9 mins: Alexander-Arnold wins a the first corner of the match for Liverpool. He delivers it himself but Deeney heads it clear. 

Watford break with Sarr who passes to Doucoure. Hughes is forward with him but an attempted pass to Hughes is intercepted and the attack breaks down. 

Watford win the ball back and plaf a long pass down the right wing. A couple of passes across the pitch switch the play to Deulofeu out on the left. He cuts inside and shoots but the shot goes over the goal.

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:41

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

12 mins: A poor pass from Robertson is jumped on by Hughes who gets the ball to Sarr. He's brought down on the right wing and Watford play a quick free kick. ball comes into the box from the right and van Dijk heads it away. 

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:45

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

15 mins: Watford attack again with Deulofeu on the left, he beats Alexander-Arnold and gets to the byline before cutting it back to Doucoure. Doucoure shoots but van Dijk blocks the shot and gives away a corner.

The corner comes in and Liverpool defend it. That was a big chance for Doucoure!

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:46

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

18 mins: Watford have impressive so far. They've sat back and defended well when Liverpool are in possession but when they win the ball their attacking play has been equally good. They've moved the ball at pace and Deulofeu is having a lot of success against Alexander-Arnold.

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:48

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

21 mins: A Liverpool corner is headed out to Oxlade-Chamberlain who chips the ball back into the box for Mo Salah. Salah controls it and shoots but hits the side netting to the right of the goal. 

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:51

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

24 mins: Robertson attempts a run in behind the Watford back line as van Dijk plays the ball over the top. His pass is too heavy and goes out of play before Robertson reaches it. 

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:54

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

27 mins: Deulofeu runs the ball into the box from the left. He tries to cross the ball and it hits Lovren on the top of the arm but his arm's are by his side so it isn't a penalty. 

Michael Jones29 February 2020 17:58

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

30 mins: Liverpool need to change something or maybe up the tempo. Watford are bossing the game at the minute. They're pressing Liverpool high and closing them down quickly. 

Deulofeu is thrown off the ball by van Dijk and as he goes down twists his knee and stays on the floor.

Michael Jones29 February 2020 18:03

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

33 mins: The physios are on seeing to Deulofeu. If he has to go off here it'll be a massive blow to Watford. It doesn't look good for the Watford man, he is yet to get off the floor and the stretcher is being brought on for him. 

Michael Jones29 February 2020 18:04

Watford 0 - 0 Liverpool

36 mins: Deulofeu is stretchered off the pitch and is replaced by Pereyra. He has been Watford's biggest threat of the game so far, the slow mo replays show how far his knee twisted around and it looks like an injury that could keep him out for a while.

The game restarts.

Michael Jones29 February 2020 18:07

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