JURGEN’S MEN ARE GLASS ACT
Watford 0 Liverpool 3
BY any measure other than the Premier League table, this vintage in red by Jurgen Klopp would be celebrated as something special. They are mean in front of their own goal, ruthless in front of the opposition’s and the streetwise nature of their performances is impressive.
As a result, club records are tumbling by the week. This is the most points the club has clocked up at this stage of a Premier League season. It is also the fewest goals conceded.
Just like a fine wine, Klopp’s men are maturing nicely. A trip to this corner of Hertfordshire on a dank November afternoon has probably replaced that famed trip to north Staffordshire now that Stoke City have been relegated to the Championship.
The Hornets are big, tough, rugged – and stick to what they are good at.
And while the Reds didn’t race into a three-goal lead after half an hour like the reigning champs did in East London, this ended as a performance that could be marked down under the category of ‘pProfessional.’
Boss Klopp’s post-match summing-up was peppered with words such as ‘stubborn’ and ‘mature.’
He said: “This is a fantastic, big club with outstanding teams of the past. For this group of players to get this record is nice.
“But the season isn’t finished and it doesn’t bring us anything.
“However, if someone has to break this record in the future, they have to beat this team. That’s good, not bad.
“Of course, we just carry on. It’s a nice moment, a clean sheet. The three points are brilliant. We did a really good job.
“I liked this game a lot because it was so difficult.”
Watford keeper Ben Foster had been the stand-out performer in the first-half. And his hard work appeared to have paid off ten minutes after the re-start.
A lunge in the area by Andy Robertson on Will Hughes should have been punished by a penalty. Referee Jon Moss missed it. A goal then would have thrown this wide open.
But this is the thing: You don’t get second chances against Liverpool these days.
Within another few moments of that awful decision by the official, Mo Salah found the net following a pull-back by Sadio Mane.
Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed his growing potential by curling home a delicious free-kick.
And even after Jordan Henderson was sent-off for his second bookable offence, Roberto Firmino scrambled home the third following a lightning-quick break.
“We never controlled games in the manner we do now,” said Klopp, “and I like that. In similar games last season, we were not convincing. It wasn’t clear we controlled the game. It’s difficult.
“This is new for us and I like it. It’s 3-0 and it was exactly how it had to be in our situation as we have to win, week in, week out.”
The scoreline was tough on Watford. But even when the game was goalless Liverpool had threatened. Keeper Alisson Becker was an interested onlooker for much of this game.
Hornets’ boss Javi Gracia said: “It was closer than the scoreline suggests but playing against this team, they are able to do this.
“We tried to do our best. We tried to score a goal. They are dangerous.”