Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for Sunday's early Premier League kickoff as in-form Watford host Liverpool at Vicarage Road. These two sides come into this match in contrasting form, and Watford may even be favourites for many having risen up to seventh in the table in recent weeks. Whatever happens, it promises to be an intriguing contest today! Let's start with a look at the two teams...

WATFORD STARTING XI: Gomes; Nyom, Britos, Cathcart, Ake; Capoue, Watson; Abdi, Deeney, Jurado; Ighalo

WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Holebas, Behrami, Guedioura, Anya, Diamanti, Oulare

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Bogdan; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Coutinho; Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Fulton, Toure, Randall, Allen, Ibe, Origi, Benteke

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, there are no surprises from the Watford camp as they stick with an unchanged side to the one that beat Sunderland last weekend. That means, of course, that Odion Ighalo leads the line once again having become the first Watford player to ever reach double figures in a Premier League season with the only goal of the game against the Black Cats. The Nigerian has scored a higher proportion of his team's goals than any other player in the top flight this season (56%), and now has 26 in 2015.

He has been ably assisted by Deeney during that time, quite literally on a number of occasions. Those two have created 29 goalscoring chances for each other so far this season, which makes them the deadliest combination in the Premier League this term. Together they are responsible for 15 of Watford's 18 league goals so far, so their importance to the team cannot be overstated.

There is no doubt that they have been the standout duo for Watford this season, but the rest of the team have certainly played their part in what has been a hugely successful campaign so far. Capoue and Watson provide the midfield base for the likes of Deeney and Ighalo, and Abdi and Jurado, for that matter, to push on, with the latter almost getting his own name on the scoresheet when he hit the post last weekend.

Heurelho Gomes has enjoyed a new lease of life at Watford too, and one howler aside, the former Tottenham keeper has been very solid so far this season. Watford boast an impressive defensive record, and the previously maligned keeper deserves a lot of credit for that, as do the quartet in front of him.

As for Liverpool, there are one or two surprises in the XI named by Jurgen Klopp today. The most notable absentee comes between the sticks as Simon Mignolet - who was at fault for West Brom's first goal last weekend - misses out due to a tight hamstring, with Adam Bogdan deputising in goal this afternoon. Mignolet's future has come under scrutiny once again with the transfer window coming up, but he is not expected to be sidelined for too long.

There is one change in the back four as Mamadou Sakho returns to the starting XI follow a spell on the sidelines through injury. Klopp ideally might not have wanted to throw the French international straight in at the start, but his hand has been forced somewhat by an injury too Lovren, although his knee problem is not as serious as first feared and he could be fit in time for the Boxing Day visit of league leaders Leicester City.

Milner is another to miss out through injury today, which paves the way for Lucas to return to the side alongside Henderson and Can in midfield, with Lallana and Coutinho expected to play a little further forward. The latter has a good record with Liverpool this season - the team average 1.4 goals per game with him on the field compared to just 0.7 without.

There is also no Benteke up front for the visitors this afternoon as the Belgian is dropped back to the bench, with Firmino coming in in his place. Liverpool's best performances this season have come when playing with that false nine, which must be the reasoning behind Klopp's decision this afternoon. If Firmino and Coutinho can link up like they did against Manchester City not too long ago then Watford will find things very difficult.

Watford have surprised many people already this season, though, and they will fancy their chances of doing so again this afternoon. They are by far the best placed of the promoted teams and, approaching the halfway stage of the season, find themselves a very healthy 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Quique Sanchez Flores may be keen to reach that 40-point mark before thinking of anything else, but right now relegation seems a long way off.

Watford come into this match above the likes of West Ham, Liverpool, Everton and Southampton in the table, and victory here would take them to within one point of the top four - a remarkable achievement for a side who have just come up from the Championship. They have amassed 25 points from their 16 games so far, becoming only the 11th promoted side to manage at least that points haul at this stage of the season. None of the previous 10 have ended up being relegated.

The omens are certainly good for the Hornets, then, and they come into this match in better form than ever when it comes to the Premier League era. Never before have they won three in a row in this division, while the last time they won four on the bounce in the top flight was under Graham Taylor in 1987. That is regarded as a golden period for the club, which goes to show just how good this run is that they are on.

The one negative note to make about that form is that all three of those wins have come against struggling teams - Aston Villa, Norwich and Sunderland. Their record against fellow top-half teams this season is not as impressive, with just one win and four points from seven meetings. All five of their defeats in the league this season have come against sides in the top 10 of the table and, with Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City, as well as Chelsea, to come in their next four, it could be a difficult festive period.

They have generally been better away from home than in front of their own fans this season too, picking up 14 points on the road compared to 11 at Vicarage Road. The concern will be that they have only scored six times on home turf this season - only Villa have fewer - although they have kept five clean sheets in front of their own fans. Only Manchester United and Arsenal have conceded fewer home goals than the Hornets.

Indeed, they have only conceded in three of their home matches this season, but they have gone on to lose each of those. Today they are looking to string together back-to-back home Premier League victories for the first time ever having dispatched of Norwich in their most recent outing here. The last time they managed consecutive top-flight wins in front of their own fans was way back in November 1987.

Only Manchester United had kept more clean sheets than Watford after 16 games of the season, with the Hornets keeping their opponents at bay in seven of their games so far this campaign. Interestingly as well, they would be top of the table if games finished at half time this season, although Quique Sanchez Flores may view that as a sign that they need to improve in the second half of games if they are to maintain their position.

As for Liverpool, they would not have envisioned trailing Watford at this stage of the season, but they remain only five points off the Champions League places after a number of results went their way yesterday. Victory this afternoon would see them climb up into seventh, leapfrogging Watford in the process and moving to within striking distance of the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

Wins have not been particularly easy to come by of late for the Reds, though. They have failed to win any of their last three games in all competitions, needing a 96th-minute deflected equaliser to rescue a point at home to West Brom last weekend. Klopp and Pulis were involved in an argument over the Baggies' style of play in that match, while the Liverpool manager lined up his players to celebrate in front of The Kop after the game despite only managing a point.

That point is their only one from six available in the Premier League so far this month, despite facing Newcastle and West Brom - two teams they would have expected to beat. They have now won only four of their last 14 Premier League outings, which really isn't good enough for a side with top-four ambitions. They are perhaps a little lucky that such form has not been punished by other teams in the race for Champions League football, all of whom seem to be dropping points with alarming regularity.

There is a more positive feel about the club under Klopp, but the facts prove that there hasn't been much of an improvement on the field - at least in the Premier League. Liverpool have taken 12 points from their eight games under the German so far, which is exactly the same amount as they picked up in the first eight games of the campaign under Brendan Rodgers. Performances have improved in general, but the results have not followed suit.

There is still too much inconsistency for Liverpool too. They have put in some stunning away performances under Klopp, comfortably beating Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton on the road, but at home they have been relatively poor. They also backed up that Southampton drubbing in the League Cup with defeat at Newcastle in their last away game, and they are now looking to avoid falling to consecutive away defeats for the first time in 2015.

That defeat at St James' Park was only their second on the road in 12 matches in all competitions this season, though. It was the first in seven away games under Klopp too, with four of those ending in victory. That Newcastle defeat can, to some extent, also be put down to bad luck as well, with Skrtel's own goal putting Newcastle in front, Moreno having a goal wrongly disallowed and the Magpies only scoring their second late on the break.

There are still elements that must improve, though. They have conceded 19 goals in 16 league games this season, keeping only two clean sheets in their last 13 having started the season with three consecutive. At the other end of the field they have also only scored 20 goals - only Watford have managed fewer in the top half of the table.

PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Vicarage Road, which means that it is time for a prediction! The form book points to a Watford victory today, but their record against top-half teams suggests otherwise, while this formation has brought plenty of success for the visitors in away games this season. I'll go for a 2-1 Liverpool victory.

Find out what the Sports Mole sofa had to say about this contest below:

The history books point to a Liverpool victory here, with the Reds having won each of their last five meetings with Watford in all competitions, keeping clean sheets in their last four. Stretching even further back, they have won eight of their last nine meetings, with the only exception being a 1-0 defeat at Anfield in August 1999, with Tommy Mooney getting the only goal of the game.

The last time Watford beat Liverpool at Vicarage Road was a full 29 years ago, with future Liverpool legend John Barnes amongst the scorers for Watford in a 2-0 victory in 1986. They will have rarely had a better chance in the 30-odd years since to end that long-standing hoodoo.

These two haven't met at all since January 2007, and Liverpool were comfortable victors at Vicarage Road on that day. Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch (2) both got on the scoresheet in a 3-0 away victory as the Reds nudged Watford one step closer to their eventual relegation.

KICKOFF: Watford get us underway at Vicarage Road as they look to make it four wins on the bounce by claiming the scalp of Liverpool.

Well, Mignolet was at fault for the opening goal last weekend, and Bogdan has made a similar howler in the opening minutes here. A corner arrives straight into the keeper's arms, and it should be a simple take for the stand-in shot-stopper. However, he fumbles it inside his own six-yard box and Ake is there to scramble it home from close range. What a start for Watford, but it is another horror show for a Liverpool keeper.

This was already going to be a tough match for Liverpool, but to give away such a poor goal so early on makes it all the more difficult. Klopp will want an immediate response from his players now.

It is Watford who have made the brighter start to this match, though, and they are harrying Liverpool's defenders very well at the moment. It has not been the most encouraging start from the visitors.

The replays for that opening goal show that Bogdan perhaps had cause for complaint as he appeared to have two hands on the ball when Ake first dislodged it from his grasp. It was borderline, however, and Bogdan can have no excuses for dropping the ball initially.

Almost an opening for Liverpool as Capoue fails to clear a corner from Moreno, giving Coutinho the ball inside the box. He reaches the byline and cuts a low ball back into the box, but Capoue is there to atone for his error and turn it behind.

SAVE! Coutinho this time has a chance to go for goal himself having been picked up by a beauty of a crossfield pass from Henderson but, having worked space to shoot, his effort is easy for Gomes.

Liverpool are beginning to settle in this match now and they have enjoyed 70% of the ball in the opening stages despite a fairly bright start from the home side. Still no major chances for the visitors to shout about, though.

Watford have a second, and there are no prizes for guessing which duo combined to get it. Deeney's first thought when he gets the ball on the halfway line is to lift it forward for Ighalo, who initially looks to be second favourite in a race against Skrtel. However, he beats the Liverpool defender to the ball, shows good strength to hold him off, and then manages to steer his effort in off the far post beyond the dive of Bogdan. That is some finish from the in-form striker.

Skrtel will be disappointed with not being able to deal with that, but Ighalo just seems unstoppable at the moment. That is his 11th goal of the season and 27th of 2015. Could Watford struggle to keep hold of him in January?

Is there any way back for Liverpool? They haven't shown too many signs in this opening 20 minutes or so, despite controlling possession. Gomes is yet to be seriously tested, while Ighalo and Deeney look dangerous every time they get into the final third.

Watford have been full of energy so far, both on and off the ball. They are closing Liverpool down very well, playing the type of pressing game usually employed by Klopp, and it is working at the moment.

Mark Clattenburg brings Moreno over for a word following a late challenge on Nyom, although the Watford defender brought his foot down right on the shin of Moreno. Both players are unhappy with the challenge of the other, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion.

Firmino has blown hot and cold during his Liverpool career so far, and right now he is certainly blowing cold. He hasn't got into this match at all yet, and you wonder whether it is perhaps better suited to a target man like Benteke.

It must be said that Watford are looking pretty comfortable right now. Liverpool have failed to cause them any serious problems in the final third, whereas the visiting defenders look a lot more shaky.

Concern for Skrtel here as he goes down following an aerial challenge with Deeney and Lucas. The defender is not one to stay down unless he is hurt, and he looks in pain right now. This would be a blow with Lovren sidelined too.

It is a fairly lengthy period of treatment for Skrtel, and he walks very gingerly off the field. It remains to be seen whether he will carry on here, although I'm sure he will give it a go.

Give it a go he does. Skrtel jogs back onto the field, but he is not moving entirely freely at the moment.

CLOSE! Another howler from Bogdan almost gifts Watford a third goal! Deeney lifts the ball into the box and Bogdan comes out to meet it, but opts to punch instead of collecting it. His punch hits one of his own players in the face, however, and deflects back towards goal. Ighalo isn't far from poking it home, but Skrtel is there to clear. The ball comes straight back, however, and Bogdan is called upon again to turn a Jurado effort around the post.

Bogdan really does look nervous every time the ball comes close to him at the moment, so don't be surprised if Watford hang every set piece right on top of the keeper.

Very good defending from Ake, who is having an impressive first half here. Lallana races forward with the ball and Liverpool for once have a bit of space in the Watford half. Henderson is racing up in support on the right, but Ake comes across and times his challenge on Lallana to perfection.

Another important challenge, this time from Abdi, draws huge cheers from the Watford support. They are really appreciating the work ethic from this side to keep Liverpool at arm's length.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Skrtel is involved in another collision with Deeney, and this time he will not be able to continue. He limps slowly off and, interestingly, is replaced by Divock Origi.

SAVE! My word, another corner causes problems for Liverpool and, having seen Bournemouth score one recently against Manchester United, it is almost a second direct corner goal in recent weeks in the Premier League! This one swings in low towards the near post and is missed by everyone before Bogdan makes a decent stop to keep it out.

That Liverpool change appears to have seen Lucas, rather than Can, drop into central defence in place of Skrtel.

There will be a minimum of three minutes added time at the end of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at Vicarage Road, then, and it is so far so good for the hosts. Watford are on course to extend their club-record Premier League winning run and move within one point of the top four having taken a 2-0 lead into the interval against Liverpool. The visitors have had more of the ball, but it is the home side who deserve their lead.

The hosts made a perfect start to the match by taking the lead inside three minutes, although they had a huge helping hand from stand-in goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. A corner flew straight into the arms of the Liverpool shot-stopper, only for him to fumble it inside his own six-yard box. There was some controversy as to whether Ake kicked it out of Bogdan's hands before bundling it home from close range, but the goal counted and Bogdan was left to rue what was a howler.

Ighalo doubled his side's advantage after 15 minutes with his 11th goal of the season, being sent through on goal by his partner in crime Deeney. Skrtel went shoulder to shoulder with the striker and got something on the ball, but not enough to clear the danger and Ighalo was there to fire a brilliant finish into the far corner.

It could have been worse for Liverpool too, with Bogdan close to another howler shortly after the half-hour mark. The keeper came to punch a lofted Deeney ball over the top, only to send it straight into his own player. Skrtel was on the line to hack it half clear, but it quickly came back at the Reds and Bogdan was needed to turn a Jurado effort past his near post.

Bogdan has also been called upon to keep out a low Watson corner that almost found its way directly in at the front post. The Liverpool defenders failed to cut it out, and Bogdan, under pressure pinned back on his own line, only just got a hand to it. The Liverpool keeper has been far busier than his opposite number, despite the visitors seeing the lion's share of possession.

Gomes is yet to be seriously tested today, with his only save so far being made after 11 minutes when he comfortably gathered a rather tame Coutinho effort from outside the box. Liverpool have barely threatened at all other than that, with Watford looking very comfortable in defence. The visitors have sorely lacked a killer touch in the final third, and they have shown very few signs of being able to recover this two-goal deficit.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for this second half as they look to provide a response to that lacklustre first half and come from behind to get something from this match.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Liverpool at the start of this second half as Moreno floats a cross into the box which Origi nods down towards Lallana. He can't get a clean connection on his shot, however, while Coutinho is unable to turn the rebound home.

CHANCE! Another sight of goal for the visitors in these opening exchanges. This time the ball is worked over to Moreno in space on the left, but the full-back slips at the vital moment and sends his effort into the side-netting.

SAVE! The ball is lifted down the right channel for Origi to chase, and the Liverpool sub holds off the challenge from the defender and gets a shot away from an almost identical position to the one Ighalo scored from in the first half. However, this finish is nowhere near as clinical and Gomes makes an easy stop.

This has been a much better start to the second half from Liverpool, who have already had three more threatening moments since the break than they had in the entire opening 45 minutes. Klopp's words are still ringing in their ears, no doubt.

More good pressure from the visitors as they put a few crosses into the Watford box in quick succession, but the hosts deal with them this time.

Henderson again finds space down the right flank, but once more Liverpool can't take advantage of a promising attacking platform as the cross flies straight into the arms of Gomes.

There is a lot more urgency about Liverpool on the ball now, and as a result they are finding a bit more space inside the Watford half. Still no goals back for the visitors, though.

Good chance for Liverpool to break as Coutinho sends a pass into the path of Origi before sprinting up in support in a two-on-one situation. Origi is unable to play the return pass as Coutinho is offside, though, and eventually Watford are able to deal with the danger.

Almost a chance for Watford as Sakho's poor clearance results in the ball being fed back into the box towards Ighalo, but Sakho atones for his own error by coming across to clear the ball.

CHANCE! Watford threaten a third, and it is Ighalo again who inspires it. He drags the ball past Sakho far too easily, leaving the Liverpool defender on his backside, but his low ball into the box is just about turned behind by Liverpool despite Jurado having a couple of swings at it.

CHANCE! Route one stuff from Liverpool as a cross arrives from the halfway line to Lallana at the back post, but his looping header drops narrowly past the far post.

Still Liverpool are knocking on the door. Coutinho's cross interests Lallana, who is just levered out of the way by Abdi, while Moreno's subsequent cross back into the area is too high for any red shirts.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Watford to wrap this up once and for all, but Bogdan goes some way to atoning for his earlier error! A through-ball splits the Liverpool central defenders, with Sakho's slip allowing Ighalo to move clean through on goal. He only has Bogdan to beat, but the keeper makes a fine save to keep his side just about in this game.

That really was a big chance and, with the form Ighalo has been in this season, you would have put your house on him scoring it. Bogdan deserves credit for saving it after what has been a shaky game for him so far, though.

CHANCE! Chance at the other end for Liverpool this time as Coutinho's crossfield pass picks up Henderson, who bundles his way past Ake before seeing a half-volley tipped over the top by Gomes.

Just over 20 minutes remain for Liverpool to salvage something from this match, but Watford are working so hard to ensure that they don't throw this one away. The visitors have improved in the second half, but as things stand they haven't done enough to warrant anything.

Good chance for Watford to put Bogdan under some more pressure with a high ball here as Ighalo wins a free kick from Lucas in a good crossing position. Can they put the game to bed here?

...No. It is a dreadful delivery from Watson as he sends the ball high and wide of the target, giving his teammates no chance whatsoever.

SAVE! Another piece of work for Gomes to do, but once again it is relatively straightforward. Britos's clearance from a cross only falls as far as Can, who takes a touch before driving a 25-yard effort towards goal that is beaten away by the keeper.

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Klopp makes his final throw of the dice as Lallana and Firmino are replaced by Jordon Ibe and Christian Benteke.

Big chance for Watford on the break as Capoue coasts past one red shirt before playing the ball through to Ighalo, but he is unable to take it in his stride and is forced wider than he would have liked. His eventual cross then goes all the way behind for a goal kick.

WATFORD SUB: The hosts make a change of their own as Ikechi Anya replaces Jurado for the final 15 minutes.

A couple of half-chances for Liverpool as Origi takes the ball down in the box before putting a low cross in to Ibe. He in turn finds Clyne, whose cross deflects to Henderson, whose shot is blocked before it can test Gomes.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the game is shown to Britos, who dragged down Benteke having failed to win an aerial battle.

WATFORD SUB: Another change for Watford as Valon Behrami makes his return from injury, replacing Abdi.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has not been too impressed by Sakho's performance today...

Watford deserve so much credit for their performance today. It lo9oks certain that they will now make it four wins on the bounce, and this game more than any proves that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Incredible scenes at Vicarage Road as Watford kill this game off once and for all to seal their first win over Liverpool here since 1986. It is Ighalo again who scores, finishing off a fine team move by planting home a header from close range having been found by Behrami's cross.

Leicester, understandably, have taken most of the plaudits in this unpredictable season, but Watford have done an incredible job too. This result will move them to within one point of the top four at Christmas.

WATFORD SUB: There will be no hat-trick for Ighalo today as he makes way in Watford's third and final change, being replaced by Adlene Guedioura.

There will be three minutes of added time before Liverpool are put out of their misery here.

This is a memorable result for Watford, but where do Liverpool go from here. This really has been a poor performance and another terrible result in what is becoming a damaging December for them.

The full-time whistle blows on a magnificent afternoon for Watford, then, as the Hornets cruise to as 3-0 victory over Liverpool to make it four wins on the bounce in the Premier League. Ake got the hosts on their way after just three minutes, with a helping hand by a Bogdan howler, while Ighalo added number 11 and 12 of the season to see out the victory against a lacklustre Liverpool.

That is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was the latest in a long line of shock results this season as Watford thrash Liverpool at Vicarage Road. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!