Liverpool v Watford: Premier League – live!

15 min “What bar is Keith Dugdale (6 mins) in?” says David Baines. “I’m watching it in Cheers, the Hanoi Reds home bar.”

13 min Alexander-Arnold, roaming infield, plays a dangerous through ball towards Salah that is crucially intercepted by the sliding Cathcart.

11 min Milner plays a neat one-two with Mane, only to overrun the ball. It was another neat touch from Mane, who for my money is the best attacker in the world right now.

10 min “It’ll take a better stats person than me, but if we take the best second halves of a season for Manchester City and Leicester City and then take Liverpool’s worst (okay, we’re not quite at 19 games yet), Liverpool surely cruise home regardless?” says Gary Naylor. “People keep puffing air into the title race balloon, but it’s not going to happen.”

No, no chance, unless Liverpool lose van Dijk, Mane, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold and Alisson to long-term injuries, and inexplicably replace Jurgen Klopp with Terry Christian. Even if Manchester City win their remaining 22 games, they won’t catch Liverpool.

9 min Liverpool are slowly getting into their work. There’s no real atmosphere, as is often the case with early kick-offs.

6 min “My 24-year-old son still has not seen Liverpool win the league,” says Keith Dugdale. “So here I am in a bar in Hanoi, beers in hand and still nervous of the game despite the opposition and our home record. At least mathematically we can’t be relegated. Next step is Champs League qualification.”

I used to think I was a pessimist, but I’ve got nothing on Liverpool fans this season. You’re the best team in the world and are going to win the league by March. Relax. Fakkin enjoy it.

5 min Watford almost take the lead! Sarr’s superb low cross from the right just evades the stretching Deeney in front of goal. He went with his wrong foot, the right, and made no contact with the ball.

3 min It’s been a quiet start to the game, with Liverpool yet to threaten. It gives me no pleasure to say this, but I think we have to ask a difficult question: has Jurgen Klopp taken Liverpool as far as he can?

2 min “As a lifelong Watford fan,” says Mark Hawkins, “should I be ashamed at the fact I have substituted Watford players for Liverpool players in my Fantasy Football team?”

The only thing you should be ashamed of is putting an Emma Bunton song in my head.

The teams emerge from the tunnel, with Liverpool’s players looking relaxed and content. What have they got to be so pleased about?

“I’m also unsure whether Steve Alvey is being serious or not, but I do absolutely see the point!” sniffs Matt Dony. “Yes, yes, I know the numbers, I’ve seen the table, I’m well aware of the probabilities. And yet, and yet. Honestly, at this point, I don’t know what Liverpool could possibly do to make me stop feeling The Fear. I wish I had your confidence, Rob. (And charisma. And integrity. And good looks…)”

Definitely serious.

The first email of the day

“Liverpool’s last good chance to close the goal difference on Leicester before the Club World Cup and a run of hard league matches,” says Steve Alvey. “An important detail as I expect they will drop points somewhere.”

I’ve read this email 471 times and I’ve still no idea whether it’s serious or flippant.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Milner; Henderson, Wijnaldum; Shaqiri, Firmino, Mane; Salah.
Substitutes: Adrian, Robertson, Williams, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Origi.

Watford (4-2-3-1) Foster; Mariappa, Cathcart, Kabasele, Kiko Femenia; Doucoure, Capoue; Sarr, Hughes, Deulofeu; Deeney.
Substitutes: Gomes, Foulquier, Dawson, Chalobah, Quina, Gray, Success.

Referee Andre Marriner.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool v Watford from Anfield. You know the context: top v bottom (or 2nd v 13th if you’re into the whole xG thing), champions-elect v Championship-bound, etc, etc. Nothing speaks of the differences between these sides quite like the number two: that’s how many points Liverpool have dropped in the Premier League this season, and how many managers Watford have sacked.

Their third boss of the season, Nigel Pearson, takes charge for the first time today. Even the ostriches know Watford are in serious trouble, though there has been enough encouragement in some of their performances to suggest they are not yet a lost cause.

Their great escape may have to wait until next week, when they host Manchester United, because Liverpool’s home form is terrifying. In the last two years their Premier League record at Anfield is P37 W33 D4 L0. Oh, and Watford’s last three visits have ended 0-5, 0-5 and 1-6. Godspeed, gents.

Kick off is at 12.30pm GMT.