Liverpool’s unbeaten run is over after they suffered a shock 3-0 defeat away at Watford on Saturday night.The Premier League leaders, who were on a run of 44 matches unbeaten prior to this fixture, slumped to an unexpected defeat away at Vicarage Road following two second-half goals from Ismaila Sarr and another from Troy Deeney.Jurgen Klopp’s side looked uncharacteristically off the pace from the very first whistle and only managed to register one shot on target during the opening 45 minutes.Watford, on the other hand, were up for this one from the outset and not even an injury to the lively Gerard Deulofeu, who went off with a serious-looking knee injury midway through the first half, managed to disrupt their positive attitude.The first half wasn’t a classic by any means with both sides struggling to retain the ball in the blustery conditions. But Watford looked threatening and were making life difficult for the reigning European champions.Sarr came out of the traps flying after the half-time interval and tested Alisson moments after the restart.Andy Robertson then spurned Liverpool’s best chance of the match after being played through by Virgil van Dijk - Ben Foster produced a smart save from the Scottish full-back - and the Reds were punished for that missed opportunity moments later.Sarr made it 1-0 in the 54th minute following good work from Doucoure…
And six minutes later, the same man made it 2-0 after chipping the ball over Alisson…
Adam Lallana, on as a substitute for Georginio Wijnaldum, then threatened to pull a goal back for the visitors with a superb strike from 20 yards, only to see the ball cannon off the post.
But Liverpool’s night was to get even worse in the 72nd minute when Deeney incredibly made it 3-0 to the relegation-threatened visitors.
Sarr came agonisingly close to making it 4-0 - and completing his hat-trick - in the 81st minute, shooting just wide.
But they had to make do with just the three goals on a night that will be remembered for a long time to come.
An incredible result for Watford, then, but an absolute shocker for Liverpool, who remain 22 points clear at the top of the Premier League table and will still go on to secure the title over the coming weeks, you would imagine.
Arsenal’s Invincibles, meanwhile, remain the only team to have gone an entire league campaign without suffering a single defeat.
Their record is safe for another season.