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.
Manchester United vs Leicester: Team changes
Ralf Rangnick makes two changes to the Man Utd team that lost 0-1 to Atletico Madrid before the international break with Luke Shaw coming in to replace Alex Telles and Paul Pogba returns instead of Cristiano Ronaldo who doesn’t make the matchday squad.
Two changes for Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City. Caglar Soyuncu and Daniel Amartey drop out of the back line with Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana both fit to return at centre-back.
Manchester United vs Leicester: Line-ups
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Fernandes, Pogba, Elanga
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Justin, Fofana, Evans, Castagne, Tielemans, Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison, Barnes, Iheanacho
Manchester United vs Leicester
Brendan Rodgers says he doesn’t understand why fans booed former Leicester defender Harry Maguire during England’s 3-0 win over Ivory Coast at Wembley on Tuesday.
"My question would be what help does it do? By nature of the word supporter, you are there to support," Rodgers said.
"He has the focus on him at a big club. Internationally, Harry has been a great player for England over these past three or four seasons.
"Maybe it’s just the modern world, patience is short now. It doesn’t do a player any good. You support through the good and the bad."
Manchester United vs Leicester
Leicester City have progressed to the quarter-final stage of the Europa Conference League and have a good chance of picking up silverware this season if they can reach the final of Europe’s third competition.
In the Premier League, they have won three of their last four games including a 2-1 victory over Brentford before the international break and will hope to continue that momentum against Man Utd this evening.
Manchester United vs Leicester
Manchester United have only lost two of their 11 Premier League games since the turn of the year but they’ve been on the end of four draws against teams thaey would have expected to beat.
That’s eight dropped points in a close race for the top four and manager Ralf Rangnick, as well as some of the more senior players in the squad, will want to end the season on a high.
Last time out in the league Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his first hat-trick since returning to Old Trafford as the Red Devils saw of a tough test from Tottenham at home. However, in their last game before the break they lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid and were knocked out of the Champions League meaning a top four finish is now the biggest goal of the season for them.
Manchester United vs Leicester
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says there is "lots of optimism" around his team after a run of good results before the international break put the Foxes back into the top-10.
"We won five of our seven games before the break.” said Rodgers. “With some of our influential players coming back. This week we could train, get some detailed work into those who stayed, and bring new guys into training."
Manchester United vs Leicester
Man Utd boss, Ralf Rangnick, says that Edinson Cavani is a doubt after picking up a calf injury playing for Uruguay and could be out for at least two weeks. Elsewhere United are boosted by Luke Shaw recovering from illness and Paul Pogba shaking off a foot problem.
Leicester are without Wilfred Ndidi who is out for the season after injuring his knee. Jamie Vardy’s own knee problem is still causing him trouble and he’ll miss the game as well.
Danny Ward and Ryan Bertrand are also out with knee injuries and Luke Thomas is a doubt due to a hamstring injury but Marc Albrighton could return following a groin issue.
Manchester United vs Leicester
Manchester United take on Leicester in tonight’s late Premier League kick off. Ralf Rangnick’s men need to pcik up three points to keep the pressure on Arsenal and Tottenham in the race for the top but even victory today won’t be enough for them to catch the Gunners. They are currently four points away from the Champions League places and will need to win as many games as possible from their last nine fixtures to stand a chance of playing in Europe’s top competition next season.
Leicester meanwhile are hoping to secure a top 10 finish to the season. They’ve struggled with injuries this campaign which has seen them fluctuate in form but three wins out of their last four league games has given them enough confidence to go to Old Trafford tonight and fancies their chances.
Jurgen Klopp bemused by ‘most ridiculous’ FA planning for Wembley semi-final
Jurgen Klopp has strongly criticised the Football Association over Liverpool’s FA Cup semi-final travel difficulties, calling it “one of the most ridiculous stories I ever heard”.
The Reds will take on Manchester City at Wembley on April 16 despite engineering works meaning no trains are running on the West Coast Mainline for the whole Easter weekend.
The FA is putting on free coaches for up to 5,000 Liverpool and City fans but getting to London will undoubtedly be a challenge for supporters with tickets.
Speaking ahead of the Reds’ Premier League clash with Watford on Saturday, Liverpool boss Klopp said: “It’s one of the most ridiculous stories I ever heard.”
Jurgen Klopp bemused by ‘most ridiculous’ FA planning for Wembley semi-final
No trains are running on the West Coast Mainline when Klopp’s Liverpool face Manchester City at Wembley later this month.
Liverpool 2 - 0 Watford
Liverpool move to the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Turf Moor. Pep Guardiola has named a fiarly strong team but they are without Ruben Dias who is out with injury.
Can they defeat Sean Dyche’s men and move big above Liverpool?
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