Liverpool will look to keep themselves in command of the Premier League title race when they host Watford at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Reds were unable to take full advantage of their game in hand on Sunday as they only managed a goalless draw with Manchester United, but they do now sit top of the table and one point clear of champions Manchester City.
Liverpool
© ReutersLiverpool are back at the summit of the Premier League table, although it might not feel like it.
The general tide of opinion has swung back in favour of Manchester City in recent weeks, with Liverpool having seemingly gone off the boil at the most inopportune moment.
Some of the criticism Jurgen Klopp's side have received has been harsh - they are, after all, still leading a historically-good Man City side in the title race and have the prospect of a first top-flight crown since 1990 firmly in their own hands.
However, a recent dip in form has seen their margin for error evaporate, and while they sat seven points clear a month ago, that gap has now been whittled down to just one.
Four draws from their last five games across all competitions has left them potentially vulnerable on both remaining fronts, requiring a result in Munich to progress in the Champions League and dropping those six cushiony points in the Premier League.
One of the major concerns will be that the last two have been goalless draws in which Liverpool have shown little sign of scoring - against Bayern Munich in the first leg of that Champions League tie and then against a Manchester United side decimated by injuries during the first half of their clash at Old Trafford.
Of course, opposition the level of Bayern and Man Utd do not come around every week, but Liverpool have also dropped points against Leicester City and West Ham United in that run having enjoyed a 100% record against teams outside the big six prior to that slump.
Once again, it is important to keep these struggles in context and this is still a team which has been beaten just once in the league all season, and that was away to Man City.
However, there has been a definite downturn in results as soon as the title was really theirs to lose and that has inevitably led to suggestions that the pressure is getting to a club that was once the most prolific winner in European football but has now not been crowned champions of their own country for more than 28 years.
The looming prospect of an away Merseyside derby at Everton on Sunday will do little to help ease those nerves, but for now Liverpool's focus must be entirely on an in-form Watford side and rediscovering the formula which saw them sweep Bournemouth aside in their last home league game.
The return to Anfield will be a welcome one for the title hopefuls; they are the only unbeaten team at home in the league this season and you have to go back to April 2017 - 34 matches ago - for the last top-flight game they lost in front of their own fans.
The final straight of the season can do strange things to a team, but if Liverpool maintain that home form by beating Watford then they will guarantee top spot with 10 games of the season left - a position they have never before been in during the Premier League era.
Recent Premier League form: WWDDWD
Recent form (all competitions): WDDWDD
Watford
© ReutersThere have not been many good times to travel to Anfield this season, but Watford's visit might have just fallen into one of them.
While Liverpool have been a little off-colour in recent weeks, Watford have just begun to hit their stride and make the trip north off the back of their biggest win of the season.
Indeed, Friday night's 5-1 victory away to Cardiff City was also the first time the Hornets had scored five goals in a top-flight match since November 1986, and they will hoping that former Everton man Gerard Deulofeu in particular maintains his form having netted three of those.
A title-chasing Liverpool team should pose a much tougher test than a relegation-threatened Cardiff side, but Watford have had an extra two days' rest compared to Liverpool heading into this one and can also lay claim to more momentum following their ongoing three-match winning streak.
Tottenham Hotspur are the only team to beat Watford in any competition since Boxing Day, while their only other defeat in their past 15 outings came against Chelsea - and both of those losses were close-run things.
Such form has taken the Hornets into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and lifted them up to seventh in the Premier League table now, with European football for the first time since 1993-94 a distinct possibility.
Friday night's win took Watford to the 40-point mark of safety with 11 games still to spare and left them 10 points better off than at the same stage of last season, so they will very much be looking to push on and record their best top-flight finish since 1982-83 now.
Javi Gracia's side are able to play with the shackles off, although they have lost their last six league games against the teams above them in the table and their next three away games come against Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Watford could have a big say on the title race, then, and they have been equally as good on the road this season as they have in front of their own fans, with only five teams picking up more points on their travels.
Just one defeat from their last 10 away games across all competitions is a record which demands respect, and if Liverpool go into Wednesday's match expecting as easy a victory as they have enjoyed on Watford's recent trips to Anfield then the Hornets are more than capable of stinging their hosts.
Recent Premier League form: WDLDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLDWWW
Team News
© ReutersLiverpool are expected to be without Roberto Firmino after the Brazilian forward twisted his ankle and was subsequently withdrawn during the first half against United.
Firmino has undergone a scan on the problem and, while the full extent of it is yet to be revealed, it is highly unlikely that he will recover in time for Wednesday's match.
Whether Klopp opts to make a straight swap for either Daniel Sturridge or Divock Origi remains to be seen, but he could also consider a change in formation which may hand a recall to Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita.
Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren remain sidelined for the hosts, who are expected to welcome Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the starting XI after he sat out against United.
One player who is almost certain to play is Mohamed Salah, who will once again look to become the quickest player to 50 Premier League goals for a single club. Watford have been his favourite opponents in England too, scoring six goals in just three games against the Hornets.
Watford, meanwhile, will still be without Jose Holebas as he serves the second of his two-match ban for picking up 10 yellow cards.
Kiko Femenia also remains sidelined, but there are no new injury concerns and Gracia could name the same XI which performed so well against Cardiff, including hat-trick hero Deulofeu and two-goal Troy Deeney.
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Shaqiri, Keita, Mane; Salah
Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Janmaat, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney
Head To Head
Watford have been one of Liverpool's favourite opponents in recent years, with the Merseysiders winning five and losing none of their last six meetings while scoring 20 goals in the process and conceding just five.
Indeed, since the turn of the century Liverpool have won 10 and lost only one of 12 contests, and they have only ever lost five times in 31 previous meetings with the Hornets, winning 22 of those.
The Reds have especially enjoyed themselves at Anfield over the past two seasons, with Salah scoring four in a 5-0 win last term and Liverpool hitting six the campaign before that. The reverse fixture this term ended in a 3-0 win for Liverpool.
We say: Liverpool 2-0 Watford
Watford are a team in good form, but Liverpool have been hugely impressive at home this season and know that they no longer have any room for slip-ups. Watford have only ever won at Anfield once, and we do not see them doubling that tally on Wednesday.
