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
42 mins: Jadon Sancho brings the ball forward down the right and squares a decent all across the front edge of the box to Paul Pogba. He’s encouraged to shoot from the Old Trafford faithful but decides to slip it through to Fred instead and Wesley Fofana manages to intercept the pass.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
39 mins: Luke Shaw picks up a knock and has to leave the pitch meaning Man Utd a temporarily down the 10-men. James Maddison flicks the ball into the left side of the box but Bruno Fernandes recovers the ball with a well timed lunging tackle.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
36 mins: Pogba chests down a cross from Shaw and tries to pick out Fernandes but Leicester recover the ball. It’s played over to Dewsbury-Hall who flies down the left wing but can’t find a way around Dalot. He decides to feed it back inside to Mendy who is met by a sliding Pogba. The challenge isn’t the best and Pogba gives away a free kick.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
33 mins: Nampalys Mendy shifts the ball over to the left side where Harvey Barnes brings the ball under control and drives it into the left side of the box. Diogo Dalot does well to hold his ground and force Barnes to make a decision. He’s got options to his right but goes for goal and allows Dalot to block the shot.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
30 mins: Youri Tielemans is the latest player to see yellow after a late tackle on Bruno Fernandes. There wasn’t much contact there and it’s a harsh card for the Leicester midfielder.
Chance! James Justin and James Maddison play a one-two on the right side to send the defender into the box on an underlapping run. He squares the ball to Kelechi Iheanacho who rolls it onto his left foot and hoofs his effort high and wide.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
27 mins: Chance! Great save from Kasper Schmeichel to deny Bruno Fernandes. Wesley Fofana gives the ball away in a dangerous area and Fred manages to slide it into the box for Fernandes. He opens up the far bottom corner and attempts to guide the ball hom only for Schmeichel to stick out his left leg and kick it away!
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
24 mins: Manchester United’s main threat is coming down the left side now through Shaw and Sancho working the ball around Justin and Dewsbury-Hall but there aren’t many options in the box for them to aim for.
Schmeichel rolls the ball to Tielemans who gets pressed by Pogba and wins a free kick for the visitors.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
21 mins: Castagne and Barnes combine on Leicester’s left side with Barnes making an overlapping run into the penalty area. Castagne attempts to feed the ball through to him but Maguire is there it block the pass and send it into midfield.
United string together an attack of their own with a pass out to Shaw on the wing. He puts it a good cross and picks out Pogba in the box. Pogba is free but powers his headed effort over the bar.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
18 mins: Raphael Varane guides the ball over to the left wing where it’s beautifully brought down by Anthony Elanga. He drives towards the box and shifts inside of James Justin. Justin lunges for the ball and brings down the Man Utd winger just outside the box.
Bruno Fernandes fizzes the set piece over to the back post where Harry Maguire peels off his marker and leaps for the ball but it drops just over his head and bounces out of play.
Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester
15 mins: Manchester United win a corner that Luke Shaw swings into the box. Leicester head the ball out as far as Bruno Fernandes who slides a pass into Anthony Elanga. He floats a cross back into the middle where Timothy Castagne and Scott McTominay both attempt to reach the ball. Castagne wins and nods it clear.
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