Top four in the Can for Klopp LIVERPOOL
EMRE CAN’S wonder goal gave the Champions League hopes of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool a mighty boost.
The midfielder gets stick for not scoring very often but his fifth goal of the campaign – a stunning overhead-kick – could turn out to be priceless.
Can’s cracker was enough to shade a poor contest and Liverpool, third in the table, are now three points ahead of fourth-placed City, although both Manchester clubs have a game in hand.
The match was only a few minutes old when Philippe Coutinho was caught on a thigh by Adrian Mariappa’s knee as he flicked the ball over the veteran Watford defender.
The Brazilian needed lengthy treatment and rejoined the fray but it was clear he was still in pain. Coutinho, inset, could hardly move so Klopp replaced him with Adam Lallana in the 13th minute. It was Lallana’s first action since suffering a thigh injury of his own on England duty five weeks ago.
The Hornets were also forced into an early change when defender Miguel Britos limped off, to be replaced by Christian Kabasele in the 19th minute.
Can began to bring the stopstart encounter back to life with a 25-yarder that Heurelho Gomes had to palm away after Lallana, showing quick footwork, had teed up.
Watford were looking comfortable however, and Liverpool short of urgency despite their greater need for the points.
Can’s obvious dive on the edge of the Watford box resulted in a ticking off from referee Craig Pawson, plus a corner.
Gomes punched that away under pressure, straight to Lallana on the edge of the box. The England man hit it sweetly on the volley and saw it arc over Gomes and bounce down off the crossbar. Divock Origi got a chest to the rebound but a Hornet hoofed clear. If Can’s dive was bad Lucas then came up with an even more laughable attempt, collapsing to the turf as he brushed Tom Cleverley in the Watford box. Pawson had no hesitation in producing a yellow card this time.
The game, and Liverpool, needed a moment of magic and Can provided it in first-half stoppage time.
Lucas lofted a pass to the German, who threw himself into the air to stun Gomes with an overhead-kick that was a goal of the season contender.
Sebastian Prodl was booked early in the second half for tripping Roberto Firmino on the edge of the box, and Gomes was forced into another save from James Milner’s freekick. Origi cut inside from the left to curl a long-ranger that Gomes did well to divert behind but Dejan Lovren’s header from the resulting corner went straight to the goalkeeper. Watford were pinned back in their own half as Liverpool continued to probe for a second but Can’s strike still seemed like an oasis of quality in a desert of dross. Origi used his pace to get into a shooting position on the right but again Gomes was equal to the task. They weren’t over enamoured either by a poor offside call that saw Troy Deeney stopped in his tracks behind the Liverpool backline; it just wasn’t Watford’s night. Boss Walter Mazzarri had been hopeful of revenge for the 6-1 thrashing his Hornets had suffered at Anfield in November but Liverpool, having somehow managed to lose against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Leicester, Burnley, Hull and Swansea this season, were determined to complete a vital double.
Gomes produced one last big save to deny sub Daniel Sturridge, who had replaced Origi, then Prodl almost equalised in stoppage time but his left-foot strike hit the bar.