Liverpool vs. Watford: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Liverpool gained a measure of revenge on Watford, beating the Hornets 2-0 Sunday at Anfield.

Midfielders Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino were the goalscorers as the Reds moved to within two points of a top-six place.

When the two sides met previously in the Premier League on Dec. 20, Watford won 3-0 on the strength of a third-minute goal from left back Nathan Ake and a brace from forward Odion Ighalo. The match came a little over two months after Jurgen Klopp signed on as Liverpool’s manager, and the club was clearly a work in progress.

The Reds have made major strides since then. They’re still prone to the occasionally poor performance—most recently their 2-2 draw with Newcastle on April 23 and 3-1 defeat to Swansea City on May 1—but their run to the Europa League final shows Klopp’s methods are starting to sink in.

The Reds weren’t entirely convincing in the first half Sunday. They enjoyed the lion’s share of possession (70 percent) but had little to show for it for much of the opening 45 minutes, registering one shot on target. Left back Alberto Moreno and winger Sheyi Ojo were dangerous out wide, but their service inside to Christian Benteke rarely found the target.

The Liverpool Echo’s LFC-centric Twitter account thought Benteke was dealing with the Hornets’ back four as well as the sun’s glare when he tried to get on the end of crosses:

Benteke about to collect a long ball from Mignolet grabs his eyes instead. Blinded by the sun! Coutinho goes close after good Ojo work.

— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) May 8, 2016

At the other end of the pitch, the Hornets were a threat on the counterattack. Liverpool’s defense recovered quickly enough to stifle the Hornets’ attacking moves, though, blocking three of Watford’s seven first-half shots—the other four were off target.

The breakthrough came off a set piece in the 35th …

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