Liverpool 2-0 Watford: Barclays Premier League as it happened

FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Watford

Oh dear, Benteke. Cameron Brannagan stands an inviting ball up to the back post where the Belgium international is standing unmarked, but he can't keep his header on target. That should be the last chance of the game.

Three minutes of time added on at Anfield.

Here's Liverpool's final change, Moreno replaced by Conor Randall,

Ibe denied by the post! A neat link up sees Lucas (!) break down the right and ping a ball across goal. Benteke just misses it and Ibe cannot direct it back on target.

Five minutes plus injury time to be played here.

Benteke nearly seals it! Prodl initially does well to take the ball off Firmino but he runs into trouble in his own box and the Belgian takes the ball off him. The angle is closing with Gomes running out, and he manages to block Benteke's effort.

Another change for Liverpool as we approach the final 10 minutes of this game with Sheyi Ojo making way to be replaced by Cameron Brannagan

Out of nowhere, Liverpool have a second! A slip from Anya invites Firmino forward with options to his left and to his right. The Brazilian instead hits a low effort on goal that squirms underneath Gomes in the Watford goal and into the back of the net. It's a poor attempt at the save from the former Tottenham goalkeeper, he had to be much stronger there.

That came from Watford's best period of the game where they were really pressing for an equaliser.

Goal! Liverpool 2-0 Watford (Roberto Firmino, 75)

Berghuis is now shown a yellow card for a late sliding challenge on Ibe.

Those changes have had the desired effect for Watford, with Berghuis combining nicely with Deeney and Ighalo. He takes the shot on from a good angle out on the right and should perhaps do better, with Mignolet easily saving.

Abdi goes for the curler, but can't get it up and over the wall in time. That will be hi last action of the game with Amrabat replacing him.

Abdi meanders in from the left, battling with Allen all the way and eventually goes down on the edge of the D, winning a free kick for his side.

Jon Flanagan now enters the referee's book after a hefty challenge on Adbi down the left flank.

Coutinho's afternoon comes to a close on the hour, his countryman Roberto Firmino replaces him.

Britos is shown a yellow card for slinging a boot into the mid-drift of Benteke. It was totally accidental, but a painful one for the Belgian.

Another change for Watford with Berghuis on for Jurado.

Mignolet denies Watford a superb goal! Anya, out on the left, pings a pass into Deeney who deftly flicks onto to Ighalo who controls instantly. The Nigeria striker leaves Moreno on his backside with a wonderful swivel to open up room for the shot, but his shot is brilliantly palmed away by the Belgian goalkeeper.

First change of the afternoon for Watford, Adlene Guedioura comes on for Mario Suarez.

Skrtel is again the wrong side of Ighalo as he looks to hook a long ball out of the air on the edge of the Liverpool box. The Watford striker gets a kick from the defender for his trouble, but referee Lee Mason waves away his appeals for a free kick.

Great chance for a second for Liverpool. Coutinho bends a superb through ball for Benteke, but his first touch brings the ball away from goal. The Belgian does well to cut back inside Cathcart however and slide a neat ball back in for the Brazilian, who continued his run into the six yard area, but he completely scuffs his first-time effort and the chance is gone,

And Watford get us back underway for the second half.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Watford

Just the one minute of time added on here at Anfield as the first half draws to a close.

Watford scream for handball! Ighalo does brilliantly to keep a the ball alive and scoop it into the box. Watson makes a mess of his first attempt to hit a half volley, but his next one hits the arm of Skrtel, prompting the calls for a penalty, but play is waved on.

Watford's great work in this half is undone as they fall asleep at a set play. Coutinho dinks a free kick into the box where Benteke has pulled Prodl out of position, nodding the ball down into empty space where Joe Allen is quickly arriving. It's a simple finish for for the Welshman who slots home to give his side the lead with 10 minutes of the half remaining.

Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Watford (Joe Allen, 35)

Benteke takes it but hammers a low effort straight into the wall. It comes back to him on the half volley but the Watford wall does its job again.

Ibe, on the edge of the box, cuts across Suarez and is tripped, winning a free kick for his side in a great position 25 yards out from goal.

From that corner, the ball breaks kindly to Abdi inside the box, who lashes a shot that seems destined for the bottom corner, only for Skrtel to leap across and make a terrific block.

From out on the right, Jurado lifts a wonderful ball into the path of Ighalo with Skrtel standing a couple of yards off him. The bounce just takes the ball away from the Watford striker, however, allowing Skrtel to get back and nick it away for a corner.

Coutinho has his legged clipped and Liverpool have the chance to lift a cross in from the left. Moreno does just that, finding Benteke but it is a difficult header to attempt and he can only steer it wide of goal.

Oce again, Watford threaten on the counter from a Liverpool corner. Abdi's ball out to Anya is a little slow, but the winger picks it up anyway and races down the flank, leaving Flanagan in his wake. Abdi has continued his run into the box but Anya decides to take the shot on himself, and lashes one across the face of goal.

Watford are moving the ball around brilliantly at the moment with sharp, incisive passes zipping between Suarez, Abdi and Ighalo down the right. Moments before that Moreno smashed an effort from range clean over the bar, despite having the option of Coutinho to his left.

It;s been a swift start to the match from both sides so far. Liverpool are just about edging it in possession but Watfod have threatened a few times on the counter already.

Close from Coutinho! Liverpool break as Stewart releases Ojo, who drives through the centre before finding Coutinho to his left. The Brazilian cuts in onto his right foot and tries to curl one into the far corner, but it it veers just wide of the far post.

Watford break at pace following a poor Liverpool corner with Ighalo releasing Anya down the left. He stands up Flanagan and beats him easily with a neat step over, but his cross into the box is comfortably dealt with.

Joe Allen slides a sloppy across midfield that Ighalo intercepts and immediately, he looks to catch Mignolet off his line. It's a cracking effort, but it isn't dropping quickly enough to trouble the Belgian goalkeeper, who managed to race back anyway.

A wonderful first touch from Deeney drags the ball away from Lucas and allows the big striker to run into space with Ighalo breaking away ahead of him. His pass into his teammate is a good one but just as Ighalo is setting himself to shoot, Alberto Moreno races across to make a fine interception.

And Liverpool get us underway for the second half.

Eight changes in all for Liverpool this afternoon. Simon Mignolet, Alberto Moreno and Philippe Coutinho are the only players to hold onto their spots with Christian Benteke among those to join them in the starting XI. Lucas will captain Jurgen Klopp's side.

Nothing radical like that from Qique Sanchez Flores this afternoon, his side pretty much picks itself.

BREAKING: Just the one change for Watford this afternoon as Prodl comes into replace Parades, shifting Craig Cathcart into right back.

Watford team to face Liverpool: Gomes (GK); Cathcart, Britos, Prödl, Anya; Abdi, Suarez, Watson, Jurado; Deeney (c), Ighalo.

Subs: Pantilimon (GK), Nyom, Paredes, Ake, Guedioura, Berghuis, Amrabat.

BREAKING: As expected, Jurgen Klopp has rang in the changes this afternoon with Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and Adam Lallana left out of the squad completely. Jon Flanagan comes in at right back with Kevin Stewart, Sheyi Oji and Jordan Ibe among those to start.

Liverpool team to face Watford: Mignolet, Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Moreno, Allen, Stewart, Ibe, Ojo, Coutinho, Benteke.

Subs: Bogdan, Toure, Firmino, Sturridge, Brannagan, Randall, Chirivella.

Watford team news:

Etienne Capoue is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Qique Sanchez Flores will be tempted to keep with the same team that beat Aston Villa last time out, but noth Nathan Ake and Allan Nyon will be hoping for recalls.

Liverpool team news:

Danny Ward, recalled from his loan spell at Aberdeen in January, would have been in contention to deputise for Simon Mignolet again today as he did at Swansea City last week.

The Wales international has been ruled out for the rest of the season, however after suffering a knee injury in training this week. That means there is likely to be a squad return for Adam Bogdan this afternoon.

Liverpool team news:

Klopp also confirmed he will ring in the changes this afternoon. Those in contention for a well earned rest are Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Emre Can.

Liverpool team news:

Jurgen Klopp has no fresh injuries to contend with and remains hopeful Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi and Danny Ings can have a role to play before the end of the season.

I don't know about Hendo. He was celebrating last night, and I saw in his eyes he think he has a chance (of playing in the Europa League final). That's the first and most important step. Same with Divock Origi. But we will see. I have no idea yet.
The latest moment if you want to play in the final is for the Sunday before. Hopefully we don't have to take any risks."

You can forgive Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool for shifting their attention to the Europa League final. Their meeting with Sevilla isn't until 18 May but the German coach will no doubt hand rests to some of his key players in their remaining two games, with the club's Premier League campaign coming to an uneventful end.

It's absurd to think that Qique Sanchez Flores, the man who has led Watford to their best ever Premier League season – which included the 3-0 hammering of today's opponents at Vicarage Road in December – and an FA Cup semi-final should find his job in jeopardy. That's the reality of the Premier League, however.