Liverpool vs Watford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Diogo Jota and Fabinho goals

Liverpool 2-0 Watford: Diogo Jota and Fabinho scored as the Reds eased to victory at Anfield

(REUTERS)

Liverpool leapfrogged champions Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Watford at Anfield on Saturday thanks to a first-half header by Diogo Jota and a late Fabinho penalty.

The hosts grabbed the lead moments after goalkeeper Alisson Becker denied Watford’s Juraj Kucka with a sharp save, as Jota timed his run to perfection at the other end and nodded in a cross from Joe Gomez in the 22nd minute.

It was Portuguese forward Jota’s 14th league goal and 20th in all competitions this season, and the 25-year-old could have added to his tally shortly afterwards but for goalkeeper Ben Foster, who saved his effort from close range.

Substitute Fabinho made sure of the three points in the 89th minute by blasting his spot kick into the top corner after the Video Assistant Referee spotted a foul by Kucka on Jota in the penalty area.

The result meant Liverpool have 72 points from 30 matches, two points more than City ahead of the two sides’ blockbuster clash next weekend. Pep Guardiola’s men can reclaim their lead and a one-point advantage if they beat Burnley later on Saturday.

Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson’s relegation-threatened Watford pushed for an equaliser in the second half but could not prevent the home side from wrapping up a 10th straight league victory. Watford remain 18th with 22 points.

Liverpool vs Watford

• Liverpool can go top of the table with victory
• Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Thiago, Jones, Salah, Jota, Firmino
• Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara, Louza, Kucka, Sissoko, Sarr, Pedro, Hernandez
• 22’ - GOAL! Diogo Jota heads opener, 1-0!
• 90’ - GOAL! Fabinho slams home penalty, 2-0!

[2 April 2022 19:13 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

84 mins: Youri Tielemans’ effort from range comes straight into the arms of David De Gea. If anyone is going to go on and win this game now it’ll be Leicester. They have all the momentum at the minute.

[2 April 2022 19:12 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

82 mins: NO GOAL! The VAR thinks there’s a foul on Varane whose leg is swept away by Iheanacho in the build-up. Manchester United get away with one and the game is all square once again.

[2 April 2022 19:10 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 1 - 2 Leicester (Maddison, 80’)⚽️

80 mins: It’s a scramble on the edge of the box between Iheanacho and Varane but Leicester come away with the ball. It’s knocked loose to Maddison who belts it home and sends Leicester back in front!

VAR are looking at it for a foul on Varane though.

[2 April 2022 19:06 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

75 mins: Paul Pogba is taken off in Manchester United’s final change and Nemanja Matic comes on. That’s not exactly the most exciting change for the Manchester United fans hoping their team will go for the win.

[2 April 2022 19:03 · Jack Rathborn]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

Kelechi Iheanacho, left, celebrates after scoring (AP)

(AFP via Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[2 April 2022 19:03 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

72 mins: Save! What a save this is from David De Gea. James Maddison has upped his own personal game and seems to be creating chances for fun. He delivers a free kick into the box and finds Wesley Fofana who gets a good chunk of the ball and whips it at goal. De Ge has to shuffle to his right before leaping full-strech to reach the ball but he gets there and manages to turn it wide of the post!

[2 April 2022 19:01 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester

69 mins: Hopefully those goals have kicked this game into life. James Maddison swings another dangerous cross into the box that Harry Maguire deals with.

Later, Iheanacho latches onto a poor backpass from Sancho and attempts to chip De Gea but knocks his effort wide of the back post.

[2 April 2022 18:56 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 1 - 1 Leicester (Fred, 66’)⚽️

66 mins: We’ve got a game now! Kasper Schmeichel’s clearance comes to Raphael Varane who dinks the ball up to Fred. He passes it across to Bruno Fernandes and follows it into penalty area. Fernandes shifts to the right and drills a low shot at goal that Schmeichel keeps out with a solid right hand but the ball gets parried to Fred. He makes no mistakes in whacking it into the roof of the net and bringing Man Utd back on level terms.

[2 April 2022 18:53 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Man Utd 0 - 1 Leicester (Iheanacho, 63’)⚽️

63 mins: Leicester lead! Big goal for the visitors! Manchester United look to break on the counter-attack and play the ball to Fred on the right side. He’s tackled by Dewsbury-Hall who recovers the ball and plays it down the wing to Maddison. Man Utd are now on the back foot and Maddison dinks the ball away from Pogba before swinging a left-footed cross into the middle of the box. It’s perfectly weighted for Iheanacho who throws himself at the ball and heads it into the back of the net!

[2 April 2022 18:50 · Michael Jones]

Man Utd 0 - 0 Leicester

60 mins: Youri Tielemans slots a lovely diagonal pass out to Harvey Barnes who chests it down and knocks it inside for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Dewsbury-Hall threads a decent pass into the box but Barnes checks his run when he realises he won’t be able to catch it.