Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk has hit out at the idea that Liverpool's success this season is "just" contained to winning the Premier League title.

The Reds, who are on the verge of winning their first league title since 1990, were knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea on Tuesday.

Melissa Reddy of The Independent shared his comments after the match:

Virgil van Dijk: "Just end up with the Premier League? Yeah? Just? It’s just a small thing is it? We also won the Super Cup and the Club World Cup. In life, there are people that are not always satisfied. I'm focusing on the good things. We are in a very good situation."

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) March 5, 2020

He added:

"That's just the reality. Either you're going to think about these things and go on with it and go on with that negative spirit, or you just focus on the good things, and I'm definitely focusing on the good things. We are in a very good situation.

"Close to what we all hope to achieve. Let's just go for it, enjoy it. [Tuesday] is a big blow, but we were playing against a very good side. Let's focus on 'just' the Premier League, because it's very small, huh?"

Liverpool are 22 points clear in the Premier League title race and need just 12 more points from their remaining 10 matches to guarantee the trophy will go to Anfield.

The Reds have been waiting 30 years to win the English top flight, but their credentials have been called into question somewhat after losing three of their past four matches.

Their UEFA Champions League title defence is hanging in the balance after a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Liverpool also lost 3-0 to Watford on Saturday, ending their hopes of matching Arsenal's achievement of going a Premier League season unbeaten—even though they are on course to surpass their points tally—and the 2-0 loss at Chelsea put a stop to their FA Cup hopes.

The Reds have been so imperious, winning 26 of their first 27 league matches, that they have been drawing comparisons with Manchester United's treble-winning 1998-99 side and Arsenal's 2003-04 Invincibles, against whom they have arguably fallen slightly short:

On the ‘greatest ever British team’ debate, Liverpool have now lost as many games as United in 98/99, and obviously won’t win the Treble. Had the depth and quality to properly go for it with the league boxed off, but never seemed up for going for the big three.

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 3, 2020

Who are the real kings? 👑

Man Utd treble winners (1998-9) - 5 losses

Man City back-to-back (2018-19) - 6 losses

Liverpool inevitables (2019-20) - 6 losses

Arsenal invincibles (2003-04) - 7 losses pic.twitter.com/MZzncC0W2U

— GOAL (@goal) March 4, 2020

Jurgen Klopp's side are still in the Champions League, though, and have a game at Anfield to overturn their deficit to Atleti.

The Reds have won all but two of their matches there this season. They drew 1-1 with Napoli at Anfield in November, a month after a heavily rotated side beat Arsenal on penalties after a 5-5 draw in the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool are the European champions and back-to-back finalists, so they will arguably be favourites to win the competition if they reach the quarter-finals.

Liverpool were "bitterly disappointed" with Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that saw them exit the 2019-20 FA Cup, according to Adam Lallana.

Lallana made a rare start against the Blues in the fifth-round tie as Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the side that were beaten 3-0 by Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, ending a 44-game unbeaten run:

WWDDWDWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL

Liverpool's 44-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League is over. What a run.  pic.twitter.com/hybhMUb18y

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 29, 2020

Willian scored in the 13th minute, and Ross Barkley sealed victory for the hosts just after the hour to end Liverpool's hopes of a domestic double:

No room in the club.

Liverpool's dream of a treble is over. pic.twitter.com/RterLuSRY6

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 3, 2020

It was also the Reds' third defeat in four matches:

Liverpool have now lost three of their last four matches in all competitions:

✖ Atlético Madrid
✔ West Ham
✖ Watford
✖ Chelsea

They had previously lost just twice in 42 games this season. pic.twitter.com/iBGrkbDLqt

— Squawka (@Squawka) March 3, 2020

The visitors were denied on several occasions by the excellent Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal, and Lallana bemoaned Liverpool's inability to find the net in a post-match interview with BBC Sport (h/t Chris Shaw of LiverpoolFC.com):

"There were big moments in the first half where we failed to score. It felt like an end-to-end game, a typical cup tie—probably good for the neutral. [But] we're disappointed not to score.

"The second half started well, there were a couple of breaks in play and it felt like we lost our momentum a little bit. A couple of mistakes and if you let a good team like Chelsea counter on you like that, they're going to have chances. We're bitterly disappointed with the result. Credit to Chelsea."

Liverpool's 2019-20 campaign is all but guaranteed to end in the Reds securing their first league title in 30 years:

#MondayMotivation? pic.twitter.com/TyFmLUVSQo

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 2, 2020

However, it is in danger of of finishing with a whimper rather than a bang after recent results, and next Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid at Anfield is now more important than ever:

https://twitter.com/NickAmes82/status/1233831390971670528

Liverpool are trailing 1-0 from the first leg and will need to rediscover their form if they are to overturn that deficit and advance to the quarter-finals.

Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Anfield could be the perfect opportunity for a morale-boosting victory. Klopp's Liverpool have won five consecutive games against the Cherries, scoring 17 unanswered goals in the process.

Another comfortable victory would send the Reds into the Atletico game confident of having another memorable European night at Anfield. 

Liverpool star Sadio Mane said the team's recent setbacks will test their champion credentials after they lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday. 

The defeat was the Reds' third in their last four matches in all competitions.

Mane told TalkSport's Joe Moore:

"I think in this moment you could be or could not be a champion, a great champion, and I think this kind of moment has happened to us, but it's not the first time, and it won't be the last time.

"We have another important game on Saturday [against Bournemouth] and then on Wednesday [against Atletico], so for this game we will be ready and we will be back again.

"This can happen in football and we're used to it. We just have to keep working hard and keep going if we want to be great champions."

Liverpool had lost just twice in all competitions prior to their 1-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid on February 18.

They lost 2-0 at Napoli in the UEFA Champions League in September, and they were beaten 5-0 by Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup in December. The latter was a team of youngsters managed by under-23 coach Neil Critchley, though, as the senior side were in Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup.

After the loss to Atletico they came from behind to beat West Ham United 3-2, before losing 3-0 at Watford and 2-0 at Chelsea.

The Blues beat them at Stamford Bridge courtesy of goals from Willian and Ross Barkley:

The Reds appear to have taken their foot off the gas since the Premier League's winter break in February:

Fyi, it’s fine to think this #LFC side are coasting a little since the break and need to snap back into gear, while also noting they have been absolutely remarkable this season and remain the best ever #LFC side.

— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) March 3, 2020

Their defeats to Watford and Chelsea mark the first time they've lost consecutive matches since January last year, in which they suffered their only defeat of the last Premier League season at Manchester City before a heavily rotated side lost at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup.

The FA Cup is now out of their grasp again, but they remain in an excellent position in the league:

With 11 Premier League games remaining, Liverpool has a magic number of 12 points to clinch its first Premier League title and its first top-flight title since 1990.

The earliest any side has ever won the Premier League title was 2000-01 Man United (clinched on April 14). pic.twitter.com/JU0eWZwPKg

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 24, 2020

https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/1232060927031304192

After the loss at Watford they now have 10 games remaining, but they have a lead of 22 points. Man City can reduce it to 19 if they win their game in hand, but realistically that's still an insurmountable gulf to overhaul.

Their Champions League title defence isn't over, either. The Reds host Bournemouth on Saturday before taking on Atleti next Wednesday.

Liverpool have won their last five meetings with the Cherries, scoring 17 goals and conceding none, so it's the ideal opportunity for them to regain some confidence with a win ahead of the second leg.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he has no major concerns about his side's form after they lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday. 

It was the Reds' second defeat in a row following Saturday's 3-0 loss to Watford, which ended their 44-game unbeaten run in the Premier League:

https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/1234956790829322240

It was also their third defeat in four after they lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League before the Watford game, with only a laboured 3-2 win over West Ham United in between. 

Before the defeat to Atleti in the first leg of their last-16 tie, Klopp's side had lost just twice in 42 games in all competitions in 2019-20.

They need to turn their form around quickly otherwise their Champions League future might be in jeopardy. The second leg against Atletico takes place at Anfield next Wednesday.

Klopp said after Tuesday's defeat that Liverpool's defence has shown weaknesses recently. But he made it clear he is not overly concerned about his side's form, especially given the Chelsea performance was better than the one against Watford despite him making seven changes:

"It went our way for so long because we defended outstandingly. Normally you don't get a lot of chances against us, but we have to admit in the last four games absolutely, too many goals from completely different situations. I am not worried about momentum. We always have the chance to get it back, I am not concerned about momentum, it's football. 

"We never thought it would be an easy season, an easy period, an easy game tonight, nothing. It was always difficult. Tonight was not good enough, and that is what we have to accept. The performance tonight was completely different to Watford. Watford was really bad, tonight was not bad. Super intense game, we made seven changes and we knew it would be intense, which was why we made the changes. 

"You need acceleration constantly, so that's why we thought we had to make the changes. That performance tonight I am not concerned about."

Willian opened the scoring after 13 minutes at Stamford Bridge, and Ross Barkley's goal just after the hour secured Chelsea their spot in the last eight of the FA Cup.

Liverpool had their chances, but they came up against Kepa Arrizabalaga in fine form:

Kepa Arrizabalaga made 5 saves within 31 minutes of the first half against Liverpool - it's already the second most he has managed in a single game all season pic.twitter.com/Y5hfLBAw1I

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) March 3, 2020

While the loss to Watford had ended their hopes of matching Arsenal's achievement in 2003-04 of going a whole Premier League season unbeaten, defeat to Chelsea means Liverpool will not match Sir Alex Ferguson's treble-winning Manchester United side of 1998-99:

No room in the club.

Liverpool's dream of a treble is over. pic.twitter.com/RterLuSRY6

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 3, 2020

What remains in little doubt, though, is that Liverpool will end their 30-year league title drought this term.

They have a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City and need just 12 points from their remaining 10 games of the campaign to secure their first-ever Premier League title:

#MondayMotivation? pic.twitter.com/TyFmLUVSQo

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 2, 2020

They will surely get back to winning ways and cut that mark to nine points when they host Bournemouth on Saturday.

Liverpool's home form is quite remarkable. They have not dropped a single point in the league at Anfield since a 1-1 draw against Leicester City in January last year, a winning run of 21 consecutive matches. Bournemouth, meanwhile, have lost their last five games in succession on the road. 

Frank Lampard doesn't think Chelsea are facing Liverpool at a good time because their 44-game unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end against Watford on Saturday. 

The Reds fell to a shock 3-0 loss at Vicarage Road, ending an 18-game winning run in the English top flight and an unbeaten stretch going back to January 2019:

LIVERPOOL HAVE LOST A PREMIER LEAGUE GAME 😲 pic.twitter.com/Ps41I4SZDx

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 29, 2020

Jurgen Klopp's side will be looking to bounce back on Tuesday when they visit Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Blues themselves have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, and when asked if Tuesday is the ideal time to be facing Liverpool, manager Lampard said, per the Guardian's Tumaini Carayol:

"Why? Because they lost one game? Maybe not, who knows? That can go either way. They have become relatively human for one game. It can happen in this Premier League, which is incredibly competitive. It shows how well they have done in the last year or so, particularly this season. So I can't comment that it will be any easier.

"Liverpool have just had a couple of results like the rest of us do. They've been out on their own this season. It has been an incredible feat from Jurgen Klopp and the whole squad and they have just become slightly normal."

Despite their loss to Watford, Liverpool remain on track to win a first English league title since 1990.

They have a 22-point lead over second-placed Manchester City with just 10 games to play in the 2019-20 season:

#MondayMotivation? pic.twitter.com/TyFmLUVSQo

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 2, 2020

And Klopp's side could still potentially match the treble-winning achievement of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side in 1998-99.

In that respect, Liverpool face a huge nine days because the second leg of their last-16 UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid is scheduled for next Wednesday at Anfield.

In the first leg, the Reds were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano, so they have work to do to get their European campaign back on track. 

Liverpool are defending champions in the Champions League and were runners-up in 2019-20.

They have never lost a two-legged European knockout tie under Klopp, but Diego Simeone's Atletico side are a superb cup outfit with a solid defence.

Liverpool face a big challenge to turn the tie around against the Madrid outfit in the second leg.

They will be much better placed to get the result they need if they can go into that match with some momentum, and that can be gained by returning to winning ways against Chelsea and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. 

Jurgen Klopp has said he "would be a real idiot" to question the character of his side despite their 3-0 loss to Watford on Saturday. 

The reverse at Vicarage Road was Liverpool's first defeat in the Premier League since January 2019—a run of 44 games unbeaten—while it also ended a sequence of 18 consecutive wins:

WWDDWDWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL

Liverpool's 44-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League is over. What a run. 👏 pic.twitter.com/hybhMUb18y

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 29, 2020

Liverpool equal Manchester City's Premier League record of 18 straight wins 🔴 pic.twitter.com/yPWoO3QV0M

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 24, 2020

After a tight first half, Watford outplayed their visitors in the second, with Ismaila Sarr scoring a double and Troy Deeney sealing the victory in the 72nd minute.

Liverpool were uncharacteristically error-prone and could have no complaints about the defeat when the final whistle blew. 

But Klopp said he did not get angry with his players after the loss:

"It can happen that I get angry with the players, but I didn't get angry with the players in this meeting. From a common-sense point of view, if I go in that meeting and shout at them like they have lost the last 10 games in a row because of a bad attitude, that would be really strange.

"I am not interested in myself feeling better after the meeting. I am interested in the boys getting the right information and it can be more emotional—I wouldn't say angry—or less emotional. If you need to analyse, you analyse, and analysis is not really emotional. It is looking at the facts. I am not a little bit in doubt about the character of the boys, and I would be a real idiot if I was, to be honest, because they deserve my trust, my faith and they don't lose it after a bad game."

Liverpool still have a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and are all but guaranteed to win a first title in three decades this term:

#MondayMotivation? pic.twitter.com/TyFmLUVSQo

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 2, 2020

They will also still beat Manchester City's record points tally of 100 set in 2017-18 if they drop fewer than nine points in their remaining 10 games of the campaign.

However, their form has dipped slightly since the winter break. 

Recent victories over Norwich City and West Ham Uniter were far from routine, and in between the Reds lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the UEFA Champions League.

In terms of their Premier League title hopes, Liverpool's blip means little as they would likely still be crowned champions if Klopp fielded the reserves in all their remaining games.

However, on Tuesday the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup, a competition they have not won since 2006.

Then Bournemouth visit Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday before the Reds host Atleti next Wednesday for the return leg of their last-16 tie in the Champions League.

If the Reds suffer any kind of hangover from their loss to Watford, their future in two cup competitions this term could be in jeopardy:

https://twitter.com/NickAmes82/status/1233831390971670528

While it will still go down as a historic campaign due to the end of their title drought, Liverpool will not want the 2019-20 season to peter out, and Klopp will need to revitalise his players after their shock loss on Saturday. 

Jurgen Klopp has defended Dejan Lovren's performance after Liverpool lost their first Premier League game of the season at Watford on Saturday.

The 3-0 defeat was just the second time this season the Reds have dropped league points, and Lovren made a rare start at Vicarage Road, partnering Virgil van Dijk.

According to David Lynch of the Evening Standard, Klopp refused to blame the Croat after Watford's Troy Deeney revealed he attempted to exploit the 30-year-old's deficiencies:

"It's not fair, but that's the world. If anybody gave Dejan Lovren the blame for our defeat then I can't help these people.

"A lot of times in my life I speak to people and they know less than I do about football, that's okay as I'm a well-paid Premier League manager and I should know more than most people.

"But on that level, I can't discuss it. You have to see the situations.

"Yes, it was a massive challenge for Dejan to play against Troy Deeney. So many other centre-halves in the world would struggle in these specific situations."

Both Lovren and Van Dijk had problems tracking Hornets forward Ismaila Sarr, who bagged two goals during the shock result. Deeney's goal wrapped up the victory with 18 minutes remaining, and Watford were deserved winners.

Joe Gomez missed the fixture with an injury, and Lovren was preferred to start over Joel Matip, who took a seat on the substitutes' bench.

The hosts threw everything at Liverpool during the encounter, and the attacking gamble emphatically paid off for Nigel Pearson's men.

Klopp added Lovren and Matip have both been "sensational" when called into the starting XI, and the Reds boss said it's difficult for the pair to find "rhythm" when they're needed to play after a lack of minutes.

Deeney had told Sky Sports he specifically targeted the Croatia international rather than Liverpool's senior centre-back (h/t Lynch): "Van Dijk is a class act; he's [a] top-five defender in the world, and it's tough to get anything from him. "He's 6'6, fast, strong, and you try and pick on the weaker of the two—no disrespect to Lovren."

"When you've got a player like Sarr with his raw pace, it is very difficult to stop him." 💨

Watford skipper Troy Deeney has praised Ismaila Sarr after his double against Liverpool. 🔥

What a future this young man has. ✨ pic.twitter.com/1TstkYMJer

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 29, 2020

Klopp consistently defends his fringe players when he calls upon them, and Lovren didn't perform significantly worse than his defensive team-mates over the full match. However, the game showed Liverpool have squad weaknesses despite being able to field the league's best starting XI this term.

The German might have to bring in new recruits to address his depth ahead of next season, but Lovren remains a capable substitute waiting in the wings.

Liverpool are back in action on Tuesday at Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round. Gomez remains doubtful, meaning Lovren or Matip could start at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his players to "restart" after Watford ended their bid to finish the Premier League season unbeaten. 

The Reds manager doesn't believe the setback has to be a negative:

"Sometimes a little knock is important. So I don't see anything negative in it.

"From time to time if you are not good enough, you need to see [the] effect. Not good enough―what happens then? So restart.

"Maybe the longer the run goes maybe it becomes more important. But I didn't see that. Now it is over. We can start again with whatever we did before, and we will."

Liverpool are on pace to win their first league title since 1990, but their bid to do so undefeated came crashing down on Saturday, when the Hornets shocked the European champions 3-0:

The defeat had been coming following poor outings against Norwich City and West Ham United. The Canaries didn't concede until the 78th minute, and West Ham held the lead until a Mohamed Salah equaliser after 68 minutes.

The Reds also suffered a defeat in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie against Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool.com's Kristian Walsh noted their form had been off since the short winter break:

https://twitter.com/Kristian_Walsh/status/1233813698323587074

The New York Times' Rory Smith thought it was reminiscent of last season:

Liverpool, I think, had their wobble last season after a 10-day break they got because they were out of the cup. It’s curious it’s happened again after the winter break. Maybe the intensity of the way they play means that rhythm is crucial, and hard to regain instantly.

— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) February 29, 2020

With the Premier League title all but locked up―Manchester City trail the Reds by 22 points, albeit with a match in hand―Liverpool's primary focus is the defence of their European title. The 1-0 defeat away to Atletico isn't insurmountable, but the Rojiblancos are known for their defensive fortitude and will likely present a big challenge at Anfield.

With an eye on that match, the defeat against Watford may have come at the perfect time. The Reds have a perfect record at home in the Premier League―14 wins from 14 matches―and may have needed the wake-up call ahead of the return leg on March 11.

Klopp is unsure how his players will react to their unbeaten run ending: "You cannot win the amount of games the boys have done if they are easily influenced by the outside world, and we will see how they react. But I don't know because I've never won 18 games in a row and didn't lose 44―first time in my life. How they react we shall see."

Atletico's away form is good news for the Premier League giants heading into the return leg of their tie:

3 wins in 14 away games for Atletico https://t.co/d6InpT5mR3

— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) March 1, 2020

Liverpool's next outing will be on Tuesday in the FA Cup against Chelsea. That will be followed by a Premier League fixture against Bournemouth before the all-important clash with Atletico.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk said his team will "strike back straight away" after suffering their first Premier League defeat of the season against Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Van Dijk told Sky Sports (h/t Chris Shaw of Liverpool's official website) that the loss to the struggling Hornets was painful, but his team will respond next time out against Chelsea in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

"Losing hurts. The records are only for the media, we didn't even mention it once. We keep going, we want to win the next game ahead of us, that's the FA Cup, and then we have Bournemouth at home. We want to strike back, we want to show what we've been doing the whole season. That's the only way forward.

"The whole season, we didn't lose a game like this. They did very well, but we should have done better. We want to strike back straight away and we will."

Watford scored three times in the second half to end Liverpool's run of 18 consecutive Premier League wins and hand the league leaders their first defeat in over a year in the top flight, per Opta:

44 - Liverpool have lost a Premier League game for the first time since January 2019, ending their 44-game unbeaten run in the competition. Stunned. pic.twitter.com/Wvj5Uesuf7

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 29, 2020

Two goals from Ismaila Sarr and a Troy Deeney strike secured all three points and lifted the Hornets out of the bottom three.

Liverpool remain 22 points clear at the top of the table and almost certain to win the title, but the loss does also end their hopes of becoming only the second team to go through a Premier League season unbeaten:

Arsenal are now the only unbeaten team in the Premier League in 2020.

And the only ever team to go unbeaten in a PL season. https://t.co/hHaLnk5ywM

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 29, 2020

Watford managed to nullify Liverpool and restricted the Reds to just two shots from inside the box, per Squawka Football.

The Reds were also sloppy in possession and found Deeney a real handful, as noted by The Independent's Melissa Reddy:

Troy Deeney - a menace all evening - got his reward by netting Watford's third, with Ismaila Sarr again influential. The hosts have been utterly brilliant at nullifying #LFC and ruthlessly profiting off their lethargy and errors. #WatfordFC 3-0 #LFC

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) February 29, 2020

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his team were "just not good enough" and congratulated Watford after the match:

"Congratulations. Really well done and well-deserved."

Jurgen Klopp admits the best team won after seeing his Liverpool side beaten 3-0 by Watford.

The result ends Liverpool's 44-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. ❌ pic.twitter.com/URbQQNWWLU

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 29, 2020

Klopp will need his team to recover quickly from their setback with some crucial fixtures ahead. The Reds are at Chelsea in the FA Cup on Tuesday and host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Liverpool then host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League tie, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, before heading to Goodison Park for a Merseyside derby with Everton.  

Watford caused one of the shocks of the season on Saturday when they defeated Liverpool 3-0 at Vicarage Road to hand the Reds their first Premier League defeat of the season.  

The home team created the best chances of the first half and were rewarded after half-time by a 54th-minute opener through Ismaila Sarr.

Sarr then ran clear and chipped Alisson for his brace six minutes later, and Liverpool's misery was complete when Troy Deeney made it 3-0 with 18 minutes remaining.

WWDDWDWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWDWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL

Liverpool's 44-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League is over. What a run. 👏 pic.twitter.com/hybhMUb18y

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 29, 2020

Watford appeared the more likely to score early on. Dangerous fGerard Deulofeu was winning his battle with Trent Alexander-Arnold before being stretchered off with an injury after 34 minutes.

The Reds failed to register a shot on target before half-time, and Alisson needed to deny Deeney when the ball dropped at the striker's feet shortly before the interval.

After half-time, it was the Hornets who once again displayed the attacking intent and Alisson was forced to save an effort from Sarr.

Just when Liverpool began to make inroads, with Andrew Robertson testing Ben Foster, a long throw-in at the other end of the pitch made its way to Sarr, and he stabbed the ball home from close range to make it 1-0.

Many would've expected a Liverpool onslaught at this point, but six minutes later, Sarr ran clear of the Liverpool defence onto Deeney's pass and subtly lifted the ball over Alisson to double his side's lead.

Watford continued to press, and an ill-judged pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold allowed Sarr in once again. This time, the 22-year-old unselfishly found Deeney, and the captain steered his shot into an empty net from the edge of the area.

Sarr should have sealed his hat-trick moments later, but the forward watched his effort sail wide shortly before his late substitution.

The result saw Watford climb out of the relegation zone. While it ended Liverpool's chances of an unbeaten season, they remain 22 points above second-placed Manchester City and look certain to wrap up the title with plenty of games to spare. 

              

What's Next

Liverpool feature in the FA Cup fifth round on Tuesday at Chelsea, while Watford are away in Premier League action against Crystal Palace on March 7.