Well that was a fairly uninspiring 45 minutes or so. What was I saying earlier about these teams knowing where the back of the net is?

And that is that.

Watford trying to find the breakthrough here just before the half-time whistle but Abdoulaye Doucoure's second attempt at a through ball is nowhere near good enough.

And to compound matters Gerard Deulofeu is a mile offside.

Free header. Back post. Mohamed Salah. Only one outcome, eh? Wrong.

The Egyptian - worryingly if you're Hornets boss Javi Gracia - is left in all sorts of space at the back stick. He heads down, textbook style, but Ben Foster brilliantly gets across to save for the hosts.

Big, big chance.

Image source, Reuters

This game has really sparked. And at the moment Xherdan Shaqiri is the man lighting things up for Liverpool.

He curls a delicious pass in the direction of Sadio Mane, who forces Watford keeper Ben Foster to tip the ball behind for a Liverpool corner.

What's this - two shots within a minute.

This time it's Watford's turn. Gerard Deulofeu picks out Roberto Pereyra but Alisson is equal to his drive, flinging himself to his left to palm the ball away.

Image source, AFP

At last a sniff at goal for Liverpool. And Roberto Firmino has it. He fires low, hard and from an angle but Ben Foster saves that comfortably.

No. No. No. With Xherdan Shaqiri stood at the side like an extra in Coronation Street, Trent Alexander-Arnold assumes free-kick taking duties on the right.

But that is a shocker. Low, flat and nowhere near the danger area.

Guess what? Watford clear. Easily.

Watford's Adam Masina is still finding his feet in Premier league terms, on his third start, and Mohamed Salah draws a foul with a wily little turn and fall.

Chance for another Xherdan Shaqiri delivery here.

Liverpool have had 67% of the possession in this one. But Watford still look dangerous every time they break.

They just need to calm down when playing their final pass.

It's all too rushed from the hosts at the minute as another attempted through ball flies away from its intended recipient, Troy Deeney.

What a ball. Hit or miss, Xherdan Shaqiri guarantees one thing. Wonderful set-piece deliveries.

The Switzerland midfielder swings a free-kick into the Watford penalty area from the right channel and all it needs is a touch from any of his team-mates to deliver the opening goal.

But the ball evades everyone in red and Ben Foster gleefully grabs it for the hosts.

Everyone loves a sweeper keeper and Ben Foster does his bit for Watford here. The former England stopper races out of his penalty area to volley clear with Mohamed Salah in pursuit for the Reds.

Image source, Reuters

Stick it in the mixer, man. Watford send all their big men into the penalty area so, guess what, they play a short corner. And to describe it as a waste would be generous.

The ball eventually gets punched forward from halfway inside the Liverpool half but I don't think there's even a home player in the same post code, as it trickles through to Reds keeper Alisson.

Watford temporarily break the Liverpool spell. Roberto Pereyra and Troy Deeney are both involved as the Hornets race down the left to win a corner.

Just signs that Liverpool are starting to take control here.

They are winning the ball back quicker and a little easier than in the opening 10 minutes but they are far from turning the screw.

Image source, AFP

Watford are showing plenty of zip early on here. They're getting about Jurgen Klopp's team and are looking pretty handy on the counter-attack.

As I type that Gerard Deulofeu completely shanks a pass out of play and Liverpool are back on the ball.

What are Liverpool doing at the back today? This time the Reds are guilty of overplaying but Gerard Deulofeu can't quite capitalise for the hosts.

With a good first touch he'd have been in on Alisson, who started all the commotion with a hospital pass to Roberto Firmino.

Now this is where Liverpool are at their best. Xherdan Shaqiri ducks and dives in midfield before feeding the ball wide.

Andy Robertson needs no invitation to gallop forward but his cross is just a tad overhit and Watford keeper Ben Foster comes to claim, with Mohamed Salah prowling.

What a start that would have been for Watford. And not the most convincing defending by Liverpool. High, square and in all sorts of trouble.

Image source, AFP

Well then what have we here. Watford winger Gerard Deulofeu races on to a long punt forward and slams a shot past Alisson.

But if only he'd staggered his run. Up goes the offside flag and it remains all square.