Liverpool Top The Premier League Standings After Beating Watford 2-0 At Anfield

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho (second right) after scoring a penalty goal against Watford, in the English Premier League match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday (2/4/2022). (ANTARA/REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE)

JAKARTA - Liverpool rose to the top of the Premier League standings after beating Watford 2-0 in the 31st match at Anfield Stadium, Saturday.

Diogo Jota's header put Liverpool ahead in the first half before Fabinho converted a penalty just before the break to complete the victory for the hosts.

Juergen Klopp's team took over the top of the standings with 72 points, displacing Manchester City (70) who had just played late.

Meanwhile, Watford (22) did not move from the red zone are in 18th place and three points adrift of Everton (25) who are just above them but have three games saved, according to the official Premier League website.

Juraj Kucka had the chance to open Watford's lead in the 22nd minute when he received a through ball from Joao Pedro but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

About 34 seconds later, Liverpool who immediately launched a counter-attack were able to take the lead thanks to Jota's speed ahead of goalkeeper Ben Foster to meet Joe Gomez's accurate cross.

Watford had another chance early in the second half, unfortunately Pedro's shot was sideways on the side of the goal. Even if the ball goes into the net, it is highly likely that VAR will carry out a review as Ismaila Sarr is in a thin line from an offside position behind Joel Matip.

Liverpool sealed their win with Fabinho's 12-foot shot in the 89th minute after referee Stuart Attwell reviewed a replay of the incident involving Kucka and Jota in the Watford box in a corner.

This victory further heats up Liverpool's next match, which will visit the Etihad against City on Sunday (10/4) next week, a day after Watford host Leeds United at Vicarage Road.

Before that, Liverpool will first fly to Portugal and play the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica on Tuesday (5/4).