Liverpool vs Watford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Diogo Jota and Fabinho goals
Liverpool 2-0 Watford: Diogo Jota and Fabinho scored as the Reds eased to victory at Anfield
Liverpool leapfrogged champions Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Watford at Anfield on Saturday thanks to a first-half header by Diogo Jota and a late Fabinho penalty.
The hosts grabbed the lead moments after goalkeeper Alisson Becker denied Watford’s Juraj Kucka with a sharp save, as Jota timed his run to perfection at the other end and nodded in a cross from Joe Gomez in the 22nd minute.
It was Portuguese forward Jota’s 14th league goal and 20th in all competitions this season, and the 25-year-old could have added to his tally shortly afterwards but for goalkeeper Ben Foster, who saved his effort from close range.
Substitute Fabinho made sure of the three points in the 89th minute by blasting his spot kick into the top corner after the Video Assistant Referee spotted a foul by Kucka on Jota in the penalty area.
The result meant Liverpool have 72 points from 30 matches, two points more than City ahead of the two sides’ blockbuster clash next weekend. Pep Guardiola’s men can reclaim their lead and a one-point advantage if they beat Burnley later on Saturday.
Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson’s relegation-threatened Watford pushed for an equaliser in the second half but could not prevent the home side from wrapping up a 10th straight league victory. Watford remain 18th with 22 points.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
57 mins: Chance! Manchester United are getting the crowd going. Dalot has sent a couple of decent balls in from the right. The second of which drops to Sancho who’s first touch rolls the ball to Elanga. He smokes one at goal but Jonny Evans is there to get the block in.
Marcus Rashford comes on for Man Utd with Scott McTominay is the man replaced.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
54 mins: Scott McTominay nicks the ball in the middle of the pitch and drives United forward, it’s a good run that ends with a poor pass across to Fernandes whose beaten to the ball by Justin. He has to slide in to get there first but manages to prod it out for a throw in.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
51 mins: Harry Maguire floats a long ball over the top of the Leicester defence and almost plays in Anthony Elanga. The winger can’t control the ball and Jonny Evans nips across to take it off him.
Yellow card! Scott McTominay is a lucky man. He dives into a tackle on James Maddison and flies in with a high foot. His stoods are showing and he collides into the Leicester midfielder. The referee pulls out a yellow card and VAR doesn’t overrule that decision.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
48 mins: That’s a nice move from Manchester United as Paul Pogba whips the ball over to Jadon Sancho on the left wing. He brings the ball down and carries it into the box before sliding a pass into the six-yard area. Bruno Fernandes arrives but can’t turn the ball towards goal and it finishes in the waiting arms of Kasper Schmeichel.
Second half: Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
Kick off: Alex Telles has come on to replace Luke Shaw for Manchester United. Shaw took a knock in the first half and this seems to be a precautionary measure.
No changes for Leicester as the game gets back underway.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
Both teams have had moments of brilliance but they’ve been let down in the final third. Those clinical passes haven’t come and promising attacks have been allowed to wither.
Changes are needed, whether in tactics or personnel. There needs to be an injection of something extra to take the game up a level or two.
Half-time: Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
45+3 mins: Lacklustre. That’s the way to describe the first half and still remain polite. It hasn’t been the most exciting of games and there’s nothing to separate the two teams.
There’s plenty of room for improvement after the break.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
45 mins: United win a corner and play it short. Sancho can’t find space to then whip it in and has to knock it back to Shaw. He finds Fernandes who lays it off to Dalot. Dalot eventually puts the ball into the box but it bounces through everyone and Sancho can’t keep it from crossing the byline.
Three minutes of added time to play.
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