Staff Reporter.
Liverpool beat struggling Watford to complete a remarkable return to the top of the Premier League – for a few hours at least.
The Reds trailed Manchester City by 14 points on 15 January, but a 10th straight league win at a raucous Anfield took them above Pep Guardiola’s side, whom they meet on 10 April.
Diogo Jota’s 20th club goal of the season and his third in as many appearances in a red shirt – 34 seconds after Alisson made a huge save to deny Juraj Kucka – helped seal a tense win.
Portugal forward Jota jumped between two Watford defenders to meet a cross and head past Ben Foster as Joe Gomez marked only his second league start of the season with an assist.
Fabinho’s late penalty – after Kucka’s rugby-style challenge on Jota – secured the points.
Despite sealing a potentially significant win, Liverpool were not at their fluent best.
Joao Pedro wasted a glorious chance to equalise in the second half as Watford remain third from bottom, three points from safety.
Jurgen Klopp’s men secured a vital win to initially go two points clear at the top before City’s clash at Turf Moor later in the day.
I really think it was a performance there in the right moments. The first goal was really nice play,” Klopp said.
“Credit to Watford and to Roy. He can really organise the team. Everybody knew what place he had to close to make it difficult.
“We could have done better but after two weeks not together and the early kick-off it’s really tricky. But all teams have the same problems.
“I don’t think after the international break I ever see the best game of the season.
“We were very mature and very controlled.”
The visit of Watford, 18th in the table, heralded the start of a monumental month for Liverpool. As well as facing City in the league at the Etihad next week, they have an FA Cup quarterfinal against them, the visit of bitter rivals Manchester United and a two-legged Champions League quarterfinal showdown with Benfica.