Liverpool host Watford at Anfield as they look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League. Here are all the stats and facts ahead of kick-off.
Corresponding fixture
Earlier this season the teams drew 3-3 at Vicarage Road on the opening day of the campaign in Jurgen Klopp‘s 100th game in charge of the Reds.
Today’s referee is Anthony Taylor—who was also the man in the middle when the teams met on the opening day.
Milestones
Sadio Mane could play his 50th league game for Liverpool.
Jordan Henderson is in line to make his 200th league appearance for the Reds.
This game could see Gini Wijnaldum play the 100th Premier League game of his career.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has started the last five league games—his best run of Premier League starts for the club.
Roberto Firmino needs one goal for the best scoring season of his career—he also scored 22 goals for Hoffenheim in 2013-14.
Firmino has played more games (124) and scored more goals (45) than any other Liverpool player under Jurgen Klopp.
Goal trail
Emre Can‘s winner at Vicarage Road in May was voted BBC’s Goal of the Season.
Mohamed Salah scored on his Liverpool debut at Vicarage Road back in August.
Wijnaldum’s first goal for the Reds came at Watford last season with him coming off the bench to score.
Sadio Mane has scored three times in his two Liverpool appearances against Watford, while Robert Firmino also has three (in five games) against the Hornets.
Defensive resolve
Loris Karius has kept 10 clean sheets in 20 appearances for the Reds this season, conceding only 17 goals.
Liverpool have kept six clean sheets in the last nine league and cup encounters with the Hornets.
There has yet to be a goalless draw in the 21 league meetings between the clubs—all 21 coming in the top flight.
Salah one away from the history books
Salah is one goal away from becoming only the third different player to score 25 Premier League goals in a single campaign for the club.
The others were Luis Suarez (31 in 2013-14) and Robbie Fowler, who did it twice (28 in 1995-96 and 25 in 1994-95).
Salah could become only the ninth different Premier League player ever to score in 20 different league games in the same season—the last being Robin van Persie (Manchester United) in 2012-13.
Hunting Hornets
Javi Gracia is Watford‘s 10th manager in the Pozzo family’s tenure in charge of the club.
None of Watford‘s last seven managers have lasted a year in charge, since Gianfranco Zola, who had 17 months at the helm up to December 2013.
Since the start of the millennium, they have had 16 managers.
Watford have picked up one point from the last possible 24 on offer on their travels.
They have failed to score in five of the last eight fixtures.
The Hornets have won three of their six league games under new manager Gracia, amassing 10 points.
* All stats thanks to LFC statistician Ged Rea.
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