Mohamed Salah set Liverpool on their way to a victory over Watford that kept them within two points of leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick and Roberto Firmino’s tap-in added to the score for the Reds, but it was far from a comfortable afternoon for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who had captain Jordan Henderson sent off in the second half.
Liverpool are now unbeaten in 13 league games in 2018-19 and have more points – 33 – than they have ever had at this point in a Premier League season before.
The five goals they have conceded is a defensive club record for this stage of a top-flight campaign, though they looked shaky at the back throughout on Saturday.
Hosts Watford were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Reds defender Andy Robertson appeared to foul Will Hughes while the score was level.
It proved a pivotal moment for the Hornets, who were then unpicked by the visitors on the counter-attack once they had fallen behind to Salah’s prodded effort from a move involving Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Though Liverpool were well short of their fluent best, the manner of this victory endorses their credentials as challengers to City.
Defeat meant Watford slip to ninth in the table.
