Can’s strike keeps Reds’ European hopes alive

LIVERPOOL IMPROVED its bid to secure a Champions League spot by beating Watford 1-0 in a largely forgettable English Premier League match on Monday. Only Emre Can made this one memorable, by meeting a Lucas Leiva cross with a bicycle-kick score in first-half stoppage time.

“I have never scored a goal like that, maybe when I was younger. That is the best goal I've ever scored,'' Can said.

League rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal dropped points in the race for a top four position, so a win was vital for Liverpool, which has struggled against teams in the bottom half. The Reds moved four points clear of fifth-placed United, though they have played an extra game.

“Everything is in our hands,'' Can said. “If we win the three (remaining) games we are in the Champions League. We are confident.'' The victory came at a cost, as forward Philippe Coutinho lasted less than 10 minutes.

With his acrobatic swivel and overhead shot, Emre Can not only scored one the Premier League's goals of the season to secure Liverpool's 1-0 win at Watford on Monday but may have settled the long-standing argument about his best position.

Ever since signing for the Merseyside club in a 10 million pounds deal from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, Liverpool have used him like a handy spare part to fill whatever slot became free. Brendan Rodgers played him as a makeshift right back and centre back in a threeman defence, with varying success, while Juergen Klopp has shifted him about in midfield as injuries to Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana kept Can moving around the team as well as the pitch.

Can's failure to secure a definite role partly explains the speculation of a possible move away from Anfield at the end of the season when his contract enters its final year.