Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Anfield

The Anfield crowd are starting to get frustrated. Watford are doing their job and Liverpool have not quite found that edge yet. They are missing those early, in-swinging crosses from Andy Robertson on the left and there are too many misplaced passes in midfield. Still fully in control though and they are used to teams sitting back when they come to Anfield.

Half an hour played, and we still await the first shot on target of the match.

A lovely, chilled Saturday afternoon for goalkeepers Ben Foster and Alisson so far.

Mane misjudges a pass to Georginio Wijnaldum in the centre of the pitch and Watford are able to steal possession as they continue to successfully interrupt Liverpool's build-up play.

There has been no room for Liverpool to create much at all so far.

Mo Salah takes it upon himself to create something, running at the back-tracking Watford defence before crossing into the box.

It's still not quite clicking for Liverpool in the final third though and it comes to nothing.

That shot by Jordan Henderson was Liverpool's first of the game.

They had to wait 22 minutes for it to arrive, their longest wait in a Premier League game at Anfield since October 2016 against Manchester United.

Watford executing Pearson's plan perfectly so far.

Anfield has gone quite flat as Liverpool continue to struggle to force a way through Watford.

Sadio Mane gets the crowd back on their feet though as he drives down the left, but his floated cross is blasted over by Jordan Henderson.

Watford just struggle to clear their lines slightly, with every interception coming straight back towards them as red shirts stream forward together.

They eventually break forward though, and earn their first corner of the afternoon - but Gini Wijnaldum cuts it out at the near-post.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Anfield

Nigel Pearson wants his Watford team to stay organised. He's gesturing to keep it compact. Liverpool are enjoying all the possession and even though there have been few chances, you sense they are just starting to find the gaps. Ben Foster is taking every opportunity on goalkicks to slow the game down too - a clear tactic from Watford to frustrate Liverpool, which they will need to do.

Mane is penalised for a handball as he attempts to control the ball in the Watford penalty area.

Good pressure on the ball in the important areas by Watford so far.

Six, five and five goals conceded in their last three Anfield trips, but Watford have survived the opening 15 minutes relatively comfortably today.

Nigel Pearson will be happy with his new side's start.

The answer, on this occasion at least, is nothing.

Liverpool earn the game's first corner.

What can they make of this?

They have more goals from headers than Watford have goals this season, remember...

Xherdan Shaqiri concedes a free-kick just inside his own half but Watford play it short and give possession away.

Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez knock the ball around at the back before Trent Alexander-Arnold carries the ball through a few Watford bodies. His attempted through-ball to Salah is cut out, though.

Liverpool just beginning to find spaces between the lines.

Mark Taylor: RE Ross M...11.54: I have been a Man Utd fan for 65 years and new manager or not you will leather Watford today 4 or 5 nil. I have Mane as captain of all my Fantasy teams so hopefully he can make my year by scoring a hat-trick.

After a bit of a frantic opening period, Liverpool slow things down and begin to build from the back.

They work it out wide to Trent Alexander-Arnold who whips in a cross from the right, but Christian Kabasele deals with it confidently.

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Anfield

It's a big day for 18-year-old Neco Williams, who makes the Liverpool match day squad for the first time in the Premier League. He was excellent in that dramatic Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal in October, providing the assist for the stoppage-time equaliser from Divock Origi. He could be one of four young players flown to and from Qatar for the Club World Cup semi-final and the cup quarter-final with Aston Villa, which are just 24 hours apart.

It's almost a rather embarrassing moment for Christian Kabasele!

The Watford defender misjudges the ball on the edge of his box and almost allows Roberto Firmino in on goal.

Rushing to quickly untangle his legs, he avoids any early disaster.

Watford are threatening now after a quiet start.

Striker Troy Deeney goes agonisingly close to meeting a low cross from the right with his toe after some excellent build-up play down the right but he can't quite extend his leg in time to meet it.

A warning for Liverpool.

Gerard Deulofeu brings Watford forward, and the Spanish forward wriggles his way into the Liverpool penalty area but the hosts are able to save the situation.

A fortunate break off referee Andre Marriner almost sees Liverpool create a chance down the other end, but Marriner is spared any awkwardness as Watford clear.