Don’t be fooled by the H2H record, Watford can’t be written off
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One win against your upcoming opponents since the turn of the millennium, six defeats and an all-round horrendous record at Anfield in the last 49 years means it’s no surprise to see Liverpool priced up as the 2/7 favourites to pick up yet another three points in the Premier League.
But you can’t write this Watford side off, and at 10/1, they certainly represent value for money this weekend.
For starters, they’re currently enjoying an unbeaten run which stretches back to September, while defeat against Burnley that month was the only time the Hornets failed to pick up at least a point in their last seven outings.
Not bad for a side many thought would be in a relegation scrap this year.
That’s a run which includes a famous 3-1 victory over Manchester United, while they know what it takes to beat Sunday’s opponents, having done exactly that with ease last year at Vicarage Road, where they won 3-0.
Odion Ighalo grabbed a brace that day, and it’s 20/1 for him to do the same again at Anfield.
We can’t see both teams scoring in this one, especially given that it hasn’t happened in the last four meetings between the two sides.
Throw into the mix the fact that it’s now been roughly 300 minutes since Heurelho Gomes last conceded a goal, and we reckon the Hornets may become just the third team this season to stop the Reds from scoring.
It’s 9/1 for Gomes to extend that fine run this weekend, while 17/20 says Liverpool keep just their second top-flight clean sheet of the season.
This fixture last season saw Jurgen Klopp’s men run out 2-0 winners, thanks to goals from Roberto Firmino and Joe Allen.
While the latter is now plying his trade at Stoke City, Firmino has enjoyed a solid start to this campaign and is 7/2 to open the scoring against the Hornets for the second time tomorrow.
Klopp knows a win could see his side top the table for the first time this season, so he’ll want his side to fly out of the traps as they have been doing in recent weeks. If they do so, there could well be some value in the 13/5 for Coutinho and co to win the first half with a -1 handicap.
While this one is an incredibly tough game to call, one thing is for certain: these two won’t let us down in the entertainment department.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
