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One of the biggest upsets in recent Premier League history was recorded at Vicarage Road, with Watford defeating Liverpool 3-0. Yes, you read that right, the same Liverpool we all know, were defeated in the Premier League.
The Hornets were totally decimated by Manchester United last week and, given their relegation struggles, this was expected to be a walk in the park for the champions-elect. As is often proved, though, football is unpredictable and anything can happen.
In what was a totally insipid start to the game, neither side really made a telling impact in the first half, with Troy Deeney missing the only chance of note just on the stroke of half-time. Seemingly buoyed by this, the hosts upped the tempo and got on the front foot at the restart.
They got the lead their improved performance deserved when Ismaila Sarr poked home a square ball from his compatriot, Abdoulaye Doucoure. The goal marked just the fourth time Liverpool have been behind this season.
Watford were soon in dreamland when they saw their side double their advantage through the same man. Given Liverpool's imperious form over the last two years, there would have still been some reservations among the Watford faithful.
Any hope of a remarkable comeback was put to rest when Troy Deeney put the icing on the cake in the 72nd minute, to condemn Liverpool to their first league defeat in 45 matches, spanning an incredible 422.
In what was a double whammy, the Reds failed to surpass Manchester City's record of consecutive wins, while also falling five short of Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run. While their wait for a first league title will still be ended within the next month, this defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Liverpool fans around the world.
The loss to Watford was unexpected to say the least and here, we are highlighting five reasons why the Reds fell to their first league defeat since January 2019.
#5 The team looked disjointed from start to finish
Liverpool have earned well-deserved praise for their high-intensity game over the years and, while not possessing the most stellar of individual names within their ranks, the Merseysiders made up for that with commitment and teamwork.
Very rarely has the team switched off in the last year. Even if they might not always play at a 100%, you can always count on them to give their all until the last minute, and this attitude has played no small role in their recent successes.
However, against Watford, their game looked very passive, almost to the point of disinterest, and this much was evident from the start of the game, giving the hosts the impetus to go for the kill.
Liverpool struggled to string three passes together and there was a visible lack of the hunger and fight that has been their defining point, with even Jurgen Klopp devoid of his usual charisma and energy on the touchline.
His defence was in shambles, the midfield non-existent and upfront, Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane were on the peripheries, with their only shot on target coming through Andrew Robertson in the second half.
Perhaps the high intensity of the last few months has gotten to them.There have been signs of vulnerability in recent weeks but, on each occasion, one or two players always stepped to the plate to bail the side out.
However, on this occasion, none of the players looked anywhere near the levels that they have performed at. While just one loss does not erase anything from what they have achieved, they have to rediscover their vibe ahead of a crunch Champions League fixture with Atletico Madrid.
#4 Dejan Lovren's nightmarish performance
Dejan Lovren was handed his first start since December but, at the end of 90 minutes, it was clear to see why most Liverpool fans would rather see the back of him.
He had dropped a clanger in the 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury in the FA Cup, and did little to redeem his battered image with another sub-par display against Watford.
The Croatian international was not strong enough on Abdoulaye Doucore in the buildup to the opener, and was caught of position for the other two goals.
The 30-year-old former Southampton man was far from alone, however, with the normally dependable Virgil Van Dijk also at fault for the first goal, alongside Andrew Robertson, while the second and third Watford goals also came about after lapses in concentration.
While Dejan Lovren might be the biggest scapegoal of this defeat, the bottom line is that Liverpool were simply not good enough defensively, and Watford were good value for their victory.
#3 Ismaila Sarr was in inspired form
After starring for Rennes in the French Ligue 1, Watford made Ismaila Sarr their record signing when they paid the sum of £30m for him last summer.
He got off to a slow start in the league but has been reborn in recent weeks, impressing with his direct running and willingness to charge at the opposition.
This much was evident in the game with Liverpool, and after a quiet first half, he roared to life at the restart, showing great instinct to evade the challenge of both Van Dijk and Robertson to score the opener, while he was also maintained his composure when played in through on goal to thump a finish past Alisson just six minutes later.
He wrapped up an impressive performance by setting Troy Deeney up for the winner, after bamboozling the Liverpool defence. He would have netted a well-deserved hat-trick in the 82nd minute, but dragged his shot narrowly wide before being substituted to a rapturous applause from the Watford faithful.
#2 Nigel Pearson got his tactics spot on
Watford have had a disastrous season that has seen them change managers three times already. Having started brightly upon the appointment of Nigel Pearson in December, however results have once more gone against them in recent weeks.
They started with a high press last week against Manchester United and got blown away, with Will Hughes guilty of exuberance but learning from his mistakes, the former Leicester manager got back to basics, borrowing a leaf from Diego Simeone and instructed his side to defend deep and limit the space afforded the opposing he full-backs.
This worked to perfection, and Liverpool were able to play a high line right up to the 60-metre mark before being congested by a five-man midfield, even after Watford lost their most creative spark to injury in the first half.
As Atletico Madrid showed in the Champions League, Klopp's side lack the creativity to slice open two deep blocks though the middle, and if their next outlet - the wings - is nullified, they would be there for the taking.
In all honesty, the hosts were aided by a lacklustre Liverpool performance and if the visitors had brought their A-game, there is not much Pearson or any of the players could have done. The manager deserves praise for sticking to his game plan, and exploiting a rare off-day by Jurgen Klopp's side.
#1 In all honesty, it has been coming
A lot has been made of the greatness of this Liverpool team and, despite this defeat, their status as one of the all-time great Premier League teams is guaranteed.
However, even before their defeat to Atletico, cracks had begun to show in Klopp's seemingly invincible army in recent weeks.
Wolves can genuinely consider themselves unlucky to have lost to a late Roberto Firmino strike, and fashioned more than enough chances to nick a point in January, while the 4-0 victory over Southampton largely flattered Liverpool, especially in a first half utterly dominated by the Saints.
They needed Sadio Mane to come off the bench and score the winner against bottom-placed Norwich a fortnight ago, while Fabianski's clanger paved the way for their dramatic 3-2 win over West Ham last week.
That Liverpool managed to pick up wins in these games despite difficult circumstances was testament to their 'monster mentality' but, unlike each of those matches, there was simply not enough in the tank or individual brilliance to push them over the line against Watford.
The Reds have not been at their devastating best in recent weeks, and perhaps this defeat will act as the proverbial kick up the backside to help them rediscover the drive that made them re-write the record books.
