Preview: Watford vs. Liverpool - prediction, team news, lineups

Claudio Ranieri prepares for a baptism of fire in his first game back in the Premier League, with his Watford side welcoming a rampant Liverpool to Vicarage Road on Saturday lunchtime.

The Hornets lost 1-0 to Leeds United during Xisco Munoz's last game in charge, while Jurgen Klopp's men played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

Match preview

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After Watford's trigger-happy board relieved Xisco of his duties - a decision that received mixed responses given their respectable start to life back in the big time - the Hornets wasted no time in bringing back revered title-winner Ranieri following the end of his Sampdoria spell.

The former Leicester City, Chelsea and Fulham coach has immediately brought a charismatic energy back to the Premier League - vowing to take his side out for dinner should they keep a clean sheet this weekend - but the Hornets' most recent battle on the pitch did not go according to plan.

Having taken four points from fixtures with Norwich City and Newcastle United, Watford's last game under Xisco ended in a 1-0 defeat to Leeds, with Diego Llorente scoring the game's only goal 18 minutes in to swiftly halt the Hornets' momentum.

Ranieri takes the reins with Watford lying 15th in the table with seven points taken from a possible 21, and there is a comfortable four-point gap separating them from the relegation zone at this early stage.

While the promise of dinner on Ranieri could provide an added incentive for Watford to make the new manager bounce count, the Hornets have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games, and that streak is unlikely to end against one of the most potent attackers in world football.

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Refusing to let the constant speculation surrounding his contract situation affect him, Mohamed Salah continues to stake his claim as one of the best in the world with the pick of the bunch in a pulsating draw with Man City just before the international break.

After laying the ball on a plate for Sadio Mane to draw first blood, Salah weaved his way through a sea of blue shirts before smashing home past Ederson in front of the Anfield faithful, but strikes from Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne ensured that Liverpool would have to settle for a point.

The Reds could not hold their position atop the rankings following that terrific watch for the neutrals and have now dropped to second place - one point adrift of leaders Chelsea - but they remain the only team in the division yet to suffer defeat this term.

Klopp must also factor in next week's Champions League battle with Atletico Madrid as he prepares to navigate another unrelenting fixture schedule, but his side are now unbeaten in 19 competitive fixtures across all tournaments and have scored three goals in each of their last four Premier League games away from home.

However, the Reds will need no reminding how an Ismaila Sarr-inspired Watford stormed to a 3-0 success in February 2020 to end their 18-game winning run, and with Ranieri boasting four wins from five home league games against Liverpool, the Vicarage Road faithful have every right to dream of a memorable start to the Italian's reign.

Team News

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Watford are expected to be without Francisco Sierralta for at least another two weeks after he picked up a hamstring problem against Leeds, while Josh King will need to be assessed after suffering a knee injury in the same game.

Ranieri's defensive ranks are also depleted with the absence of Christian Kabasele (thigh), while Peter Etebo is out until 2022 and new arrival Nicolas Nkoulou is not ready for his debut just yet.

Craig Cathcart could therefore be required in the heart of defence alongside William Troost-Ekong, while Joao Pedro and Cucho Hernandez could battle it out to start up top in King's absence, unless Ken Sema returns on the left as Emmanuel Dennis leads the line.

Meanwhile, Liverpool were reportedly planning to fly Alisson Becker and Fabinho back on a private jet from South America on Friday in time for them to play on Saturday, but Klopp has now ruled both players out of the contest.

Caoimhin Kelleher should therefore earn a start in goal, while Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Thiago Alcantara are all absent, but there is optimism over the fitnesses of both Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

With Fabinho absent, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will hope to be handed opportunities in the middle of the park, while Roberto Firmino is set to lead the line as Jota is spared for the trip to Madrid and Divock Origi battles an illness.

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Sissoko, Kucka; Sarr, Tufan, Sema; Dennis

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane

We say: Watford 1-3 Liverpool

With Liverpool shipping five goals in their last two Premier League games and set to be without two mainstays of the side due to late arrivals back to the UK, it would not be surprising to see Watford enjoy some good fortunes up top in Ranieri's inaugural fixture.

However, the Reds' sheer quality in the final third should come to the fore once more, and while Klopp has some big decisions to make amid a taxing schedule, we can only see Liverpool prevailing comfortably.