Watford comprehensively defeated Liverpool, English Premier League leaders, 3-0 to end the Anfield club’s unbeaten record in the league.
Two goals from Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr and a third from Troy Deeney consigned Liverpool to their heaviest defeat in two years.
The Reds were aiming to set the record of 19 straight top-flight wins but Watford crashed Jurgen Klopp and his boys’ party, delivering a second half performance that lifted them off the bottom of the EPL table.
Watford, winless in five games coming into this encounter, took the lead in the 54th minute when Sarr poked in from close range. The 22-year-old added the second six minutes later with a chip over Alisson Becker.
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The Hornets delivered the final sting 18 minutes from time through captain Deeney. The striker was on hand to slot in Sarr’s pass after the speedy winger had intercepted a poor Liverpool back pass.
Despite having their dangerous trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Liverpool slumped to a defeat that ends their record-equalling 18 consecutive league victories.
The defeat is the club’s heaviest since a 4-1 loss to Tottenham in October 2017. It also makes history as the heaviest defeat — in EPL history –the league leader would suffer against a team in the relegation zone.
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Furthermore, Liverpool’s 44-game unbeaten run snapped by rampant Watford means they fall five games short of matching the 49 unbeaten record of Arsenal’s Invincibles set between 2003-2004.
It also means Liverpool will not match the unbeaten season managed by the same Invincibles in the 2003/04 season.
The win moved Watford out of the relegation zone and makes Nigel Pearson, it’s manager, the first English coach to win a game against Liverpool since 2017.
Liverpool maintain their 22-point cushion with 10 games left to play in a league they are expected to win, their first in 30 years.
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Results
Brighton 0-1 Crystal Palace
Bournemouth 2-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 0-0 Burnley
West Ham 3-1 Southampton
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