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Premier League | Gameweek 17
Dec 14, 2019 at 12.30pm UK
 
WL

2-0

Salah (38', 90')
FT(HT: 1-0)

How Liverpool could line up against Watford

:Headline: How Liverpool could line up against Watford: ID:382661: from db_amp
Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for Saturday's Premier League clash with Watford as top host bottom at Anfield.

Liverpool welcome Watford to Anfield for their final Premier League game before Christmas as top host bottom in what on paper looks likely to be a one-sided contest.

Jurgen Klopp's side are eight points clear at the top of the table and have won 24 of their last 25 Premier League games, and victory on Saturday lunchtime would temporarily extend their advantage ahead of their trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup next week.

The Reds have a particularly fearsome record at home to the Hornets in recent times too, but Watford could prove to be a banana skin as they look to make a fast start under new boss Nigel Pearson.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Liverpool could line up for the contest.



Out: Joel Matip (knee), Nathaniel Clyne (knee), Fabinho (ankle), Dejan Lovren (thigh)
Doubtful: Adam Lallana (muscle)

> Click here for Liverpool's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Dejan Lovren limped off early for the second game in a row against Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday night and this injury is more serious than the last, meaning that Joe Gomez will be handed a start alongside Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool only two remaining fit centre-backs.

Van Dijk scored twice in this fixture last season while Liverpool as a whole have scored more headed goals alone than Watford have scored in total this season, so the backline will be optimistic of keeping their first Anfield clean sheet of the campaign.

Injuries to Joel Matip, Fabinho and Nathaniel Clyne do limit Klopp's options as far as rotation is concerned, though, with the main bulk of the changes expected to come further upfield.

Liverpool fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation in their last home game against a team in the relegation zone, and that worked well as they brushed Everton aside in the Merseyside derby earlier this month.

It is a system which the Reds regularly switch to during matches as well, and with at least one of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane likely to be rested, they could go with it from the start this weekend as Divock Origi looks to lead the line.

Watford will be hoping that as many of the usual front three as possible sit out given that Salah has directly contributed to seven goals in four games against them, Mane eight goals in five games and Firmino eight in six.

Liverpool's fringe players have stepped up to the plate in recent weeks and so Klopp will not be hesitant to throw them in again against a team they are expected to beat, with the likes of Naby Keita, Xherdan Shaqiri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner among those pushing for a start.

Adam Lallana should be in contention after missing the last two games, meaning that captain Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum could be given the day off.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
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