Watford v Liverpool - preview

TEAM NEWS

Watford duo Valon Behrami and Sebastian Prodl could both be available after recovering from calf problems.

The Hornets remain without long-term absentees Rene Gilmartin and Tommie Hoban.

Liverpool's James Milner has been ruled out with a calf problem while Daniel Sturridge is still sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Defender Dejan Lovren also misses out after suffering a knee injury against West Brom last weekend.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

John Murray: "Unless it's already happened and I've missed it, we must be nearing the time a Watford supporter will pop up on 606 bemoaning the fact his club 'is not getting the credit they deserve'.

"If they win this one, it would be the first time they've recorded four consecutive victories in the top flight since Graham Taylor was in the final weeks of his almost legendary first spell as the Watford manager.

"Liverpool would have to be considered dangerous opponents having taken one point from their last two league matches against Newcastle and West Brom.

"But if Watford can win it, it would be a great start to an extremely testing fortnight for them… and credit would be due."

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Watford head coach Quique Sanchez Flores: "I have a squad and I would like everyone to play. The team has been working very well this season and that has meant it hasn't been easy to make many changes.

"Players like [Victor] Ibarbo, [Alessandro] Diamanti and [Jose] Holebas are in the squad dynamic and they are ready.

"It is impossible for every player to play all the minutes in the next four games."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Watford's good start to the Premier League season: "It's not a big surprise. They have good players and a good plan....

"Watford are playing very well and have good strikers, quick in their minds. But we don't go there to clap our hands for them."

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

Most of Liverpool's best performances under Jurgen Klopp have been away from home, but they have also come when Klopp has used a false number nine.

At Newcastle, with Christian Benteke leading the line, they were poor. They have not used him properly yet, and it will be interesting to see if they manage to do that here.

Lawro's full predictions v comedian and Phoenix Nights star Justin Moorhouse.

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Liverpool have won their last five games against Watford in all competitions, keeping clean sheets in the four most recent encounters.
• Watford's last win against Liverpool was a 1-0 victory at Anfield in a Premier League game on 14 August 1999. Tommy Mooney got the goal.

Watford

• Victory would see the Hornets win four successive top-flight games for the first time since April 1987.
• They have kept seven Premier League clean sheets this season - only Manchester United, with nine, have a better record prior to the latest round of games.
• Odion Ighalo is the first Watford player to score 10 goals in a Premier League season. He has scored 26 goals in the calendar year 2015.
• If Premier League games ended at half-time this season, Watford would be top of the league with 27 points.
• Watford are the 11th newly-promoted side to have won at least 25 points in their opening 16 Premier League games - none of the previous 10 have been relegated.

Liverpool

• The Reds have kept two clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League games - having begun the campaign with three successive shut-outs.
• They have taken 12 points in eight league games under Jurgen Klopp - matching their tally in their opening eight matches under Brendan Rodgers.
• Liverpool have scored just two goals in the three Premier League games that Philippe Coutinho has missed this season (0.7 per game) compared to an average of 1.4 goals per match when he has featured.