The fans of Liverpool have almost forgotten when did their beloved team lost in the Premier League. Even if the Reds were found struggling to get their act together, somehow, they would find a way to bag full points and in the course of time, this season, Jurgen Klopp’s boys were progressing towards immortality. But all of a sudden, a bottom-ranked team named Watford humiliated the European Champions, which was shocking!
Liverpool have lost a Premier League game for the first time since January 2019, ending their 44-game unbeaten run in the competition. Watford won by 3-0, which is the heaviest defeat by a team top of table against a team in relegation zone since Leicester beat Man Utd in 1985. pic.twitter.com/I51pdmklOT
— Faisal Caesar (@faisalyorker1) March 1, 2020
Jurgen Klopp’s men went to Vicarage Road on the back of 18 successive league wins, one short of a new record, but the Bright Hornets outclassed the Reds in all the departments to keep their survival hopes alive.
Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season in their 28th match meant the end of their hopes of going the whole league campaign unbeaten as the new “Invincibles” and of emulating Arsenal’s feat of 2003-04 and Preston North End’s in 1888-89. It also concluded their run of 44 league matches without defeat stretching back to January 2019.
The home team lost Gerard Deulofeu due to an injury, but Ismaila Sarr was inspiring and thus, stunned the off-key Liverpool with 2 goals in 6 minutes in the second-half before setting up captain Troy Deeney with a third for the team who had started the day with 55 points the Reds.
Liverpool were really rusty throughout the evening. Especially, at the back.
Dejan Lovren, who replaced the ‘rested’ Joe Gomez, struggled to cope with the pace and tenacity of Deeney. He gave away the ball, left spaces, which then forwards of the Hornets exploited. Then Virgil van Dijk was rattled. Fabinho was exposed.
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane struggled to find their rhythm and just behind these two – Roberto Firmino provided little influence to make an impact. Trent Alexander Arnold, the favourites of all, was found wanting as he gave away the third goal. While Alisson was floundered.
It was a Red unit, which kept all thinking, “What the hell are they playing?”
None could find an appropriate answer.
Even though the Reds are in a very comfortable position to lift the title, but a 3-0 defeat against Watford and such an abject display are quite unacceptable.
Liverpool’s unbeaten run will go down in history.
• 44 matches unbeaten
• 422 days without defeat
• 2nd longest run in English history
• 1 x European Cup
• 1 x Super Cup
• 1 x World Club Cup
• 106 out of 111 pointsNow let’s lift that trophy… 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ux5nRYFey4
— LFC Stats (@LFCData) March 1, 2020
The Hornets stung badly as Liverpool failed to score a goal after 37 matches. The aura of invincibility is gone, but in the meantime, this defeat might also help to lessen the burden of carrying the load of invincibility and fix the weak areas for the upcoming matches – especially during the clash against Atletico Madrid at the Anfield.
