Liverpool extended their unbeaten Premier League start to 13 games courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
It took until the 67th minute for the title hopefuls to make the breakthrough, but quickfire goals from Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold saw Jurgen Klopp's side take full control over the game.
A red card for Jordan Henderson threatened to let Watford back into it, but Roberto Firmino wrapped up the points with a third goal late on.
Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
These two sides have both impressed so far in 2018-19 and sit firmly in the top half of the table, but Watford's form has slipped a little in recent weeks so it should be an intriguing contest today. Last season provided goals galore in these fixtures, so hopefully we're in for more of the same here!
Let's start with a look at the team news...
Well, we'll start with the visitors and interestingly Jurgen Klopp has stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation which has yielded Liverpool's best football so far this season, rather than the usual 4-3-3 system.
Klopp has hitherto tended to only go for this formation in home games, but he is willing to take the risk today which means that there is a place for Xherdan Shaqiri in the starting lineup once again after he scored last time out.
In front of them, it is likely to be Firmino who operates in the number 10 role with Salah likely to be the main man through the middle, with Shaqiri and Mane - the latter of whom has just signed a new contract at the club - providing the width.
Firmino also has a fine record against the Hornets, being directly involved in seven goals from his last five Premier League games against Watford - scoring four times and creating another three.
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It is not thought to be a serious problem, but it is enough to keep him out of this game as Dejan Lovren comes in to partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold provide the width.
That is one of three changes made by Javi Gracia, with Etienne Capoue and Troy Deeney also coming into the side as Chalobah and Success drop out.
There is more good news on the injury front when it comes to Will Hughes too, as he has overcome the knock he picked up against Southampton last time out to start once again.
He and Mariappa are likely to be tested today by that Liverpool attack, but they have been good so far this season and also provide a threat at the other end of the pitch from set pieces - an avenue Watford may look to exploit today.
Former Everton attacker Gerard Deulofeu is also likely to ask a few questions of the Liverpool defence, and the contrasting styles of those two and Deeney could pose a tricky test for the visitors today.
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The results have certainly begun to tail off in recent weeks, with Watford beginning the season by winning their opening five games across all competitions, but winning just two of their nine since - including five defeats.
Even so, it has still been a very good start to the campaign from the Hornets and the fact that they are already halfway to the 40-point mark will be a big comfort for fans beginning to worry a little about their recent dip in form.
At the moment Watford's record tally after 13 matches is 21 points, which they achieved in 1982 and again last season, although Javi Gracia will be cautious considering what happened around this stage of the 2017-18 campaign.
Watford went through a spell of just one win in 12 Premier League games, taking them from European challengers to worrying about a relegation scrap, and Gracia will heed warning from his predecessor's fate ahead of a busy December schedule.
The deal is not yet signed, but it will be next week and a 30th win from his 47th game in charge would be the perfect way to celebrate the impending extension.
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The Hornets took only one point from two games against struggling duo Newcastle and Southampton, losing against the Magpies 1-0 before drawing 1-1 at St Mary's following back-to-back wins over Wolves and Huddersfield before that.
However, it was only last month that Bournemouth ran out 4-0 winners here, and including today the next two visitors are Liverpool and Manchester City. Incidentally, Watford have lost 15 of their 17 Premier League games against teams beginning the day in the top two, with their only victories coming against Chelsea in September 1999 and Arsenal in January 2017.
The Reds go into the game as favourites regardless, and could even climb to the top of the table this afternoon should results elsewhere - namely in the West Ham vs. Man City game - go their way.
There may be some frustration for Liverpool considering that this is the joint best-ever start they have made to a Premier League season - alongside the 2002-03 campaign - yet still they do not sit top of the table.
On that occasion six of their opening 13 games ended in draws, though, whereas Klopp's side have dropped just six points in total this season - all against other teams in the top five too. Liverpool have a 100% record against teams outside the top five this term.
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Indeed, Liverpool's tally of just five goals conceded is not only the joint-best in the league this season, but also the joint-best tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign in the club's illustrious history.
Uncharacteristically, it is actually in attack that Liverpool need to start improving, with only Spurs having scored fewer in the top five and Manchester City already 13 goals better off than them. In such a close title race, goal difference could ultimately prove to be important - although we are a long way away from having to worry about that.
Liverpool's most recent Premier League away game came at the Emirates Stadium, meanwhile, when they played out a 1-1 draw with Arsenal prior to a 2-0 Champions League defeat against Red Star Belgrade.
There is another big away match coming up in the Champions League on Wednesday as Liverpool take on PSG in Paris, and that precedes another huge game with the Reds hosting Everton in the Merseyside derby next Sunday.
Fans may have one eye on those two games, but Klopp knows that his side need to be fully focused on this one today.
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This looks like being a tricky test for Liverpool, with Watford a somewhat unpredictable team, so the result could depend on which version of the home side turn up. There were goals galore last season, but we don't see that being the case again this time around.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Watford 0-1 Liverpool
The Reds have won four of the last five meetings, with the other ending as a draw, scoring 17 goals in the process at an average of more than three per game.
Liverpool's last visit to Vicarage Road produced even more goals, although this time they were shared as Miguel Britos scored a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser to seal a 3-3 draw on the opening day of last season.
Encouragingly, there has never been a goalless draw between these two sides in the top flight, and if last season is anything to go by we could see plenty fly in today too. Hopefully they can prove my prediction wrong!
WATFORD STARTING XI: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Mariappa, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Mane, Salah; Firmino
Correct decision, though!
It was a pretty dire affair for the vast majority of that half, in truth, but the chances began to flow in the final six minutes and it bodes well for a much more entertaining second half!
The closest we have come to an opener was from Mo Salah, who ghosted into the box unmarked to get his head to a corner, only for Foster to scramble across and make a crucial stop on the line.
Watford's best chance fell the way of Pereyra just seconds after Firmino had registered the first shot of the game in the 39th minute, but Alisson reacted really well to turn his powerful half-volley away from goal.
Liverpool had 69% possession in that first half, but it was only in the final six minutes that they began to make use of that. You can check out all of the match stats by clicking here.
The front three are all involved as Firmino slides a pass down the left channel for Mane, who in turn pulls the ball back into the box. Salah is there to meet it and squeezes his first-time finish past Foster, who perhaps should do better.
Foster was left rooted to the spot as the youngster's effort flew over the wall and in, and now Watford really do have a mountain to climb.
The ball drops to Firmino, though, and he manages to bundle his header past Foster. A moment of confusion follows, with players looking to the linesman, but he was onside and the goal counts.
It is an impressive scoreline, but it is harsh on Watford and it wasn't until the 67th minute that Liverpool made the breakthrough. Salah opened the scoring, and Alexander-Arnold and Firmino added to it despite Liverpool having to play the closing stages with 10 men after Jordan Henderson was sent off.
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's game as Liverpool keep the pressure on Man City with a 3-0 win over Watford at Vicarage Road! I will leave with with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.
From me, though, it is goodbye for now!