Britos scores in stoppage time as Liverpool held by Watford in six-goal thriller
Premier League, Vicarage Road Stadium - Watford 3 (Okaka Chuka 8, Doucoure 31, Britos 90) Liverpool 3 (Mané 29, Firmino 55(P), M. Salah 57)
Miguel Britos scored in the 94th minute as Watford snatched a point after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool.
The build-up to the game was overshadowed by Philippe Coutinho handing in a transfer request and the Reds looked off the pace in the first-half without the injured Brazilian.
Marco Silva’s men took the lead early on from a corner with Stefano Okaka heading in.
The Reds equalised through Sadio Mane but soon found themselves behind when more poor defending lead to a Abdoulaye Doucoure’s goal.
In the second half, Jurgen Klopp’s side were more clinical and equalised through Roberto Firmino’s penalty before Mohamed Salah gave them the lead on his debut.
But deep into stoppage time Britos scored with a header on the line to end a turbulent 24 hours for Liverpool, who have a crunch Champions League qualifier against Hoffenheim on Tuesday.
TALKING POINT
Liverpool need to sign at least one defender before the transfer deadline
Jurgen Klopp’s zonal marking approach was exposed in the first half with Watford scoring two soft goals. Alberto Moreno was a surprise pick at left-back while Dejan Lovren looked all at sea at times. Time to make up with Southampton and try again to sign Virgil van Dijk?
MAN OF THE MATCH
Roberto Firmino (Liverpool): After a quiet first-half, the Brazilian burst into life after the break with a coolly taken penalty before setting up Salah’s winning goal. His deliveries from corners were also impressive, setting up Joel Matip who rattled the crossbar.
PLAYER RATINGS
WATFORD: Gomes 5, Janmaat n/a, Kaboul 6, Britos 5, Holebas 5, Chalobah 5, Doucouré 7, Amrabat 6, Cleverley 6, Pereyra 6, Okaka 7…Subs: Femenia 5, Richarlison 5, Gray 6
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 6, Alexander-Arnold 6, Lovren 5, Matip 5, Moreno 5, Henderson 5, Can 6, Wijnaldum 4, Salah 7, Mane 8, Firmino 8. Subs: Milner n/a, Origi n/a, Gomez n/a
KEY MOMENTS:
8’ - GOAL FOR WATFORD! From the corner, Okaka heads in at the near post from close range. Where was the marking?!
29’ - GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! Mane with a cool finish from inside the box after a sublime flick from Can.
32’ - GOAL FOR WATFORD! What a game! Cleverley sends in a low cross from the right, Liverpool fail to clear it and Doucouré taps the ball in from two yards out.
38’ - CHANCE FOR SALAH! The winger dispossesses Holebas on the edge of the box and is through on goal but toe pokes his shot over the bar. He should have found the target from there, especially given his form in pre-season.
55’ - PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Gomes races off his line and dives in to trip Salah. Firmino sends the keeper the wrong way with his spot-kick, placing it into the bottom left corner
58’ - GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! The visitors break and Firmino is through on goal, he lobs the keeper and Salah is there to get the last touch from a yard out with an outstretched foot.
65’ - WOODWORK! From the corner, Matip's glancing header at the near post hits the bar and Watford clear.
90'+4 - GOAL FOR WATFORD! From a corner, RIcharlison flicks it towards goal at the near post and Brittos heads it in on the line!
KEY STATS
The first five shots on target in the match all led to goals.
Mohamed Salah is the 12th different player to score on his Premier League debut for Liverpool.
Only José Fonte (5) has given away more penalties in the Premier League than Heurelho Gomes (4) since the start of 2015-16.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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