So, here we are back where the memories of that wonderful night against Liverpool will return to many a Watford fan's dreams the night before we play them. Doucoure's knock on to Sarr for a slide in goal, then Hughes somehow managing to keep the ball in play before Deeney played a glorious pass infront of Sarr who then ran to goal and chipped a beauty over Alisson, capped off by a great side footed finish by Captain Wonder. What a night and game that was. It's over a year since that magical night - yet it's still one fondly remembered. Here's the highlights. Ok, back to the here and now. After the predictable sacking of that lovable rouge Xisco Munoz, we aptly waited for the next taxi to pull into Watford High Street Station. Of all the out of work managers, we managed to pull the big fish for once. Claudio Ranieri. Quite the coup for "little 'ol Watford". He has had about two weeks (from when our last game ended) to hopefully grind in his philosophy, tactics, formation and game plan. We will see if it goes well, or goes to pot on the pitch in what I am expecting to be a full Vicarage Road Saturday Lunchtime. The Italian Mastermind behind Leicester's unbelievable title win, followed by less success at Fulham - does mean there is an aura of mixed bag about his ability to transform what was, quite frankly, one of the worst Watford showings in the Pozzo era against Leeds around. I personally remain optimistic about how he will do, but proof will be in the pudding (and it will be, since Deeney has not eaten it). LIVERPOOL AND THE KLOPPITES Klopp frightens me. He really does look pretty creepy, especially with that big toothed grin, the large glasses and the baseball cap. But, I am under no illusions of his talent as a top level coach. He guided Liverpool to their first Premiership title in 30 year and became a national hero (on Merseyside). This season, they have started very well and much better than the previous one. With a stuffing of Norwich and Leeds in the bag and producing an excellent display in a fantastic game against Pepsi's Manchester City last time out, this is a side full of confidence and Mo Salah will be ready. Liverpool are full of talent and have players Watford would only dream of signing. Ironically, they travel down to Hertfordshire unbeaten, just like last time. Would it really be such a shock for us to humble them again? Overall, Liverpool's record away at Watford is pretty poor. ARISE - CLAUDIO RANIERI They say the first game for a new manager can be the so-called "baptism of fire" and Claudio has been given a right hot one here. Hopefully he won't be roasted come 2.30pm. It's almost impossible for anyone, me included, to predict how we will line up, what formation we will play and what the overall game plan will be. We can have a forum meltdown and 12.30 when we see Masina or Cathcart at RB instead of Ngakia. What I can say is, I hope against hope, that we play MUCH better than we have in the last two games. Whether or not the Leeds' performance was intentional by the players to get Xisco sacked, or he/they knew about it beforehand is impossible to even begin speculating. We need to push hard going forward when we can, try to press further up the pitch towards the end of the game, and defend like a team. It's not impossible to say we can win this - of course we can. I would personally take a hard fought draw here. Not losing in front of what will be an expecting home crowd will be a good start. MY PREDICTION As I have stated above, without knowing the likely changes in personal/formation etc. it's impossible to give a prediction based on what we knew about Xisco's team lineups and tactics. I we bold here and say we will nick this. We will almost certainly start the game penned in our own half, and weathering the early storm will be vital. WATFORD 2 LIVERPOOL 1 ps. To those who are wondering why this is up so early, well it's a big game for us and with the hopeful manager bounce we can begin to move in a positive light now. Oh, and also because I was bored this afternoon.
Imagine if we play like we did in the Newcastle / Leeds games?! Thats why Xisco got booted, we were walking into a shoeing.
Denied Liverpool a later kickoff which probably rules out a couple of their Brazilian players. No one likes us…
No Allison or Fabinho for Liverpool. Apparently they tried getting the match moved back to no avail. We'd have been in the same boat with Sierralta but he's since joined the Danny Welbeck School of Hamstrings.
Good. I've booked a hotel for the night before the game because I cannot be bothered with the horrendous journey in the morning and the inevitable rushing around with it being an early kick off. Would have made that completely pointless.
I see it’s been framed as ‘us’ denying a later kick-off whilst the media completely ignore the fact that to change from a 12:30 k/o would mean having to change from BT to Sky Sports slot - which I would assume is nigh on impossible. Even if we had accepted the request, it wouldn’t have happened.
Exactly. It's a televised match, so there's no chance of switching it, but it's national smash up Watford week, so the statement we denied Liverpool what they wanted will give the pundits more ammo to fire at us. How dare that pip squeak club get in the way of Liverpool's title aspirations. Who the hell do they think they are? Don't they know they should be in League One?
I wish Klopp still had his mini me assistant. Probably the only likeable thing about him, that and his ridiculous white teeth.
Foster Kiko WTE Kabasele Rose Sarr Cleverley Sissoko Sema Tufan Dennis Bachmann, Ngakia, Cathcart, Masina, Louza, Kucka, Cucho, JP, Fletch. Watford 0-4 Liverpool 'Orns!
I wonder if Van Dijk will target Sarr for a kicking this time? He did a great job on Deulofeu with absolutely no repercussions from the ref or the media afterwards.
Agree, cowardly shove when he was off balance and the ball was nowhere near as Van Dijk was annoyed he'd ripped them to pieces in the first 15 minutes. Also can't stand Robertson, I remember when he fouled Hughes and then got right over him shouting in his face to try to convince the ref it was a dive for a penalty. Just a thoroughly unlikeable team and fanbase. Was so much better when they were crap.
Can you imagine turning up to work dressed and styled exactly like your boss? They'd either think you were a total **** or taking the piss.
Yeah I've lost count of the amount of times Robertson gets mouthy with someone only for one of his bigger teammates step in and help him out. If Dennis is going to get a ban soon he may as well do it in style and punch the tosser.
I know we are all expecting to blow them away and give them a thrashing, especially with their Brazilian contingent missing, but I would honestly, hand on heart settle for a dull win by just the odd goal. Prediction Watford 5-4 Liverpool Sarr (78, 90+1), Dennis (83), Kucka (87), Foster (90+11), Kabasele (sent off 22); Salah (12, 23, 44, 66) Just get the points and move on, don’t need to dwell on this one.
It will be our third consecutive meeting with Liverpool in which they’ve been unbeaten in the league. Ranieri will become our third coach in the Pozzo era to have Liverpool as his first opponents, following on from Pearson and Silva.
Hopefully a much improved performance under a more tactical and experienced manager. We were round the corner from an absolute battering based on our most recent performances. We still might be to be but I have more faith that we won't get absolutely smashed under Caludio Ranieri. No doubt we will lose and I will get the piss taken out of me by condescending Liverpool fans who have never been to a game but think they are super fans because they got an Anfield stadium tour as a Christmas present once.
No doubt in my mind that if GD was fit for the rest of the season, we stay up. He was a match winner for us at that point. We nearly survived as it was; I'm sure he'd have been a difference maker. Then again, so would have not reappointing QSF.
Yep, he was unplayable 1 in 4 games. We'd have stayed up comfortably. I am going to boo the shyt out of that phoney hard man van dijk that's for sure. And I might even throw some hot food at him, and that's no idle threat. I famously hit Stan Collymore's heel with a hot dog when he played for Forest.
Ranieri beats Klopp in the eyewear department but that'll probably be it. I'd love to see a replica of the 3-0 victory but it'd probably go the other way.