Watford v Liverpool - As it happened

Patrick Power 6 years ago 16.4k
Official lineups for the Premier League match between Watford and Liverpool. BeSoccer

A point apiece here after a crazy match. Watford were better in the first half and they took the lead through Okaka. Mane levelled before Doucouré scored his team's second. Liverpool turned the result around thanks to Firmino's penalty and Salah's debut goal. When it all looked over, Britos scored in the 93rd minute.

Watford v Liverpool - As it happened

It's all over

A point apiece here after a crazy match. Watford were better in the first half and they took the lead through Okaka. Mane levelled before Doucouré scored his team's second. Liverpool turned the result around thanks to Firmino's penalty and Salah's debut goal. When it all looked over, Britos scored in the 93rd minute.

Wijnaldum shot blocked

Milner's cross reached the midfielder at the edge of the block and his effort is crucially blocked.

Vicarage Road is bouncing

What a game!

Unbelievable. In the 93rd minute, and again woeful defending from Liverpool. The ball is pulled back in by Amrabat and after coming off Mignolet and the underside of the bar, Brittos blasts it home on the goalline.

GOAL!

Chance Watford

Britos manages to get a shot on goal and Mignolet punches the ball wide.

Last change Liverpool

Alexander Arnold is substituted by Gomez.

5 minutes of stoppage time

The crowd behind their team as they look for the equaliser.

Liverpool change

Salah is replaced by Milner. Not a great game, but the Egyptian scored one and won a penalty.

Watford push for an equaliser

10 minutes to go and the hosts are looking for a goal.

Liverpool sub

Firmino makes way for Origi.

Salah hits the side netting!

Mane finds Salah inside the area, and the Egyptian drills a right-footed low shot into the side-netting.

Salah over the bar!

Moreno's cross-field ball found the Egyptian unmarked who brought down the ball with his chest and blazed his effort inches over the bar.

Gomes saves!

Liverpool looking to close the game now. Lovren rose at the near post to head the corner kick towards goal, but Gomes saved well.

Crossbar!

Matip looks to get on the end of the corner and the ball comes off his back before hitting the bar.

What a strike Moreno!

The left-back worked well on the left and aimed a thumping volley for the top corner but Gomes stretched to get his fingertips to the ball.

Watford sub

New signing Gray comes on for Okaka.

Yellow card

Alexander Arnold is booked for a sliding challenge on Amrabat.

Liverpool are ahead!

What a comeback. And Salah is at the heart of it all. Moreno finds Firmino with a long ball and the striker tries to lob the ball over Gomes. The ball is drifting wide until Salah races to latch onto it and score on his PL debut for Liverpool.

GOAL!

All level again!

Firmino sent Gomes the wrong way and found the bottom left corner. It's anybody's game now.

GOAL!

Firmino to take

Salah was faster than Gomes in the box and the keeper brought the winger down.

Penalty Liverpool!

Richarlison replaces Pereyra

Watford's new signing makes his PL debut.

Salah wide!

The second time Salah gets a sight on goal. The winger cut onto his favoured left foot and tried to curl it inside the far post, but it was a couple of yards wide.

Pereyra hits the ground

The midfielder seems to be struggling with an injury as he limps off.

Liverpool get the second half started!

Can they overturn the result?

Half time

Watford lead at half time after an intense first period. The hosts took the lead through Okaka before Mane levelled at the half-hour mark. Two minutes later, Doucoure put his side in front again.

Mane close!

The forward leaped to meet a corner kick, but his header drifted just wide of the post. That would have been a game-changer.

4 added minutes

What a chance Salah!

The Egyptian found space behind the defence for the first time today and he burst into the box before toe-poking his finish well over the bar.

Tough blow for the Reds

It had taken Liverpool 30 minutes to get into the game with their first shot on goal, and they were back for just two minutes. Mane gets a yellow card for stomping on Doucouré.

Watford lead again!

That did not last long. Watford hit back immediately with the ball falling to Doucouré inside the box and the midfielder could not miss from close range.

GOAL!

What an equaliser from mane!

Superb goal from Mane. The winger shook of the pressure before opening up for Moreno. The Spaniard played the ball for Can who set Mane free inside the area with a first-time flick for the forward to blast the ball into the top corner.

GOAL!

Chance Watford!

Amrabat crossed the ball from the right aiming for Okaka who was in an offside position, but Mignolet raced off his line to clear the ball.

No response from Liverpool

Klopp's team have not recorded a single shot on goal with over 20 minutes gone.

First change of the game

Janmaat limps off to make way for Kiko Femenia.

Janmaat goes down

The right-back seems to have picked up an injury within the first 15 minutes of the season. Watford prepare a subsitution.

Comfortable start for Watford

Smiles all around Vicarage Road with the hosts in control. Marco Silva's side are going forward at ease and Liverpool have been unable to create danger for Gomes at the other end.

The hosts take an early lead!

The curling corner is whipped into the near post and all Okaka has to do is get a head to it. The ball powers off Mignolet and into the net. Terrible defending from the Reds as they allowed the big forward to get onto the ball unmarked.

GOAL!

First chance Watford!

Okaka worked well to get the ball to Pereyra who twisted and turned inside the area before his shot was deflected by Lovren for a corner.

Liverpool hoard possession

The Reds with the patient build up. Alexander-Arnold tries to find Firmino with a long ball but the Brazilian cannot get it under control in the box.

Strong challenge from Janmaat

On Sadio Mane who goes down in pain.

Watford get the ball rolling!

First possession for the home side as Chalobah kicks off.

All set at Vicarage Road!

Gomes and Henderson lead their teams out for the first Saturday kick off of the season.

Good omen for Liverpool?

Watford have never won a PL opener, with their last opening win in the top division coming in 1987. On the other hand, Liverpool have won their last four opening day league fixtures.

New boy Salah starts

Coutinho may not be available, but new signing Mohamed Salah gets his first PL start for Liverpool.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.

Subs: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Grujic, Solanke, Origi

Watford: Gomes; Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Chalobah, Doucouré; Amrabat, Cleverley, Pereyra; Okaka

Subs: Pantilimon, Prödl, Femenía, Watson, Capoue, Richarlison, Gray

Coutinho is out

After handing in a transfer request, the Brazilian will sit out his team's Premier League opener with a back injury.

Ready for more?

The Premier League returned on Friday night as Arsenal and Leicester put on a show to open the new season. The first of Saturday's fixtures comes from Vicarage Road as Watford host Liverpool.

Live updates of the Premier League fixture between Watford and Liverpool at Vicarage Road.

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