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  • Mar, Sun, 2020
Sport

Liverpool’s dream EPL run ends in shock 3-0 thrashing at Watford

Thrashing
London, March 1, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Liverpool’s unbeaten run of success in this season’s English Premier League (EPL) was ended in unfathomable fashion on Saturday as struggling Watford hammered the European champions 3-0.

Ismaila Sarr inspired the extraordinary upset, stunning off-key Liverpool with two goals in six second half minutes at their ecstatic Vicarage Road stadium.

He then set up team captain Troy Deeney with a third for the team who had started the day one from bottom, 55 points behind the runaway leaders.

Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season in their 28th match meant the end of their hopes of going the whole league campaign unbeaten.

They would have been the new “Invincibles’’ and emulate Arsenal’s feat of 2003/2004 and Preston North End’s in 1888/1889.

It also concluded their run of 44 league matches without defeat stretching back to January 2019.

It came on the day they were expected to surpass champions Manchester City by creating a new English top-flight record of 19 successive league victories.

The setback will doubtless not stop Juergen Klopp’s men going on to lift their first English title for 30 years as they remain 22 points ahead of their nearest pursuers Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Yet their season’s aura of domestic invincibility was demolished on Saturday.

“Our best performance by a country mile. No one give us a prayer or a hope for this one,” said Deeney, who praised man-of-the-match Sarr as an “unbelievable player, unbelievable talent’’.

Klopp had no complaints.

“They did exactly what they wanted to do, and we did not. That’s how football works,” shrugged the German. “You have to accept it. It’s not so easy, but we were not good enough tonight.”

Liverpool had previously dropped only two points in the league this season —- their draw at Manchester United in October.

But from the start, Watford attacked them with a vigour that belied their struggles in the league.

Watford, who had not won any of their previous five league games, quickly looked the more likely to break the deadlock in the first half.

Gerard Deulofeu was proving to be Liverpool’s main tormentor before he was stretchered off with a knee injury that manager Nigel Pearson described as “bad”.

Yet it was only when the Senegalese winger Sarr struck twice just before the hour mark that the Hornets dared to dream.

First he poked home from close range after Liverpool had failed to deal with a throw-in.

Then, after Will Hughes had set up an attack with a neat backheel, he powered forward and lifted the ball over the advancing Alisson.

Sarr then completed his fairytale day by latching on to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s poor back pass and setting up Deeney, although he did miss a good chance to complete his hat-trick.

Liverpool never gave up and Adam Lallana hit the post with one thumping drive.

But, for the first time in the league this season, they had been thoroughly outplayed, as Klopp acknowledged with his generous on-field congratulations to his opponents.

“If you win, good. If you lose, try to do it in the right manner and do it like a man,” Klopp said.

For Watford, these were crucial points, as Pearson’s men moved out of the bottom three on goal difference into 17th place.

“I think that performance surpassed everything else we’ve delivered so far. You’ve got to earn the right to beat a side as good as Liverpool,” said Pearson.

As for Liverpool’s setback, captain Virgil van Dijk said: “Losing hurts, the records are only for the media, we didn’t mention it once.

“We keep going. We want to win the next game in the FA Cup and then in the league against Bournemouth, that’s the only way forward.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • Feb, Mon, 2020
Sport

Manchester United outclass Watford to stay in EPL top-four hunt

Top-four
Manchester (UK), Feb. 24, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Manchester United kept alive their hopes of finishing in the English Premier League (EPL) top four after a 3-0 home win over Watford on Sunday.

Goals from Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood secured the win for the former champions.

Portugal midfielder Fernandes scored his first goal for Manchester United with a 42nd minute penalty kick.

Martial and Greenwood then netted fine individual efforts to lift them two places up to fifth on 41 points from 27 games.

Manchester United are three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, while struggling Watford stayed 19th on 24 points.

The home team’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised the agile Fernandes and Greenwood.

“A very good win, two good wins and two clean sheets, some goals to celebrate. Now we want to kick on,” Solskjaer said, also referring to Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Chelsea on Monday.

“Fernandes is quicker than he looks. Very excited by having him in. He has come in, given everyone a boost and wants to conduct a game. There are big games coming up now.

“The thing that matters in football is scoring goals and that is what Greenwood does.”

Fernandes added: “This is the day every player wants to have. I just need to help the team, it’s what I need to do. I hope Martial scores more goals too like he did.”

The home side looked disjointed in the opening 20 minutes and both teams missed chances.

Then, Ben Foster tripped Fernandes and the playmaker sent the Watford goalkeeper the wrong way with a confident spot-kick.

Watford had an effort ruled out for handball following a VAR check soon after half-time.

Manchester United then doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Martial picked up the rebound after Foster blocked his initial attempt.

He left Etienne Capoue dumbfounded with dazzling footwork before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper.

Greenwood put the icing on the cake with another goal of the highest quality in the 75th minute.

He unleashed a pile-driver into the top corner after finding space on the edge of the penalty area.

Manchester United fans unfurled a giant banner before the kick-off.

There was also a minute’s silence to honour the club’s former goalkeeper Harry Gregg who died last Sunday at the age of 87.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Watford battle back to salvage 2-2 draw against Arsenal

Draw
Watford (UK), Sept. 15, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Arsenal squandered a two-goal lead as Watford hit back to draw 2-2 in new manager Quique Sanchez Flores’s first game of his second stint in charge at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Flores’s return following the dismissal of Javi Gracia after four games of the 2019/2020 English Premier League (EPL) season seemed to be going flat as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice.

But, after returning from the break, Tom Cleverley halved the deficit in the 53rd minute after some dreadful Arsenal carelessness.

Watford were rewarded for a much-improved display when substitute Roberto Pereyra converted an 81st-minute penalty kick awarded after he was brought down by David Luiz.

Watford came agonisingly close to winning it with Gerard Deulofeu curling just wide and then Abdoulaye Doucoure having stoppage-time shot saved by Bernd Leno after a counter-attack.

Victory would have put Arsenal into third place but they ended the day seventh in a cluster of clubs on eight points.

Watford are still seeking a first win of the season and remain bottom, even though they doubled their points tally to two.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Haller double gives West Ham United 3-1 win over Watford

Haller double gives West Ham United 3-1 win over Watford

London, Aug. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Record signing Sebastien Haller scored a tap-in and a superb bicycle kick for West Ham as they beat Watford 3-1 in the Premier League at Vicarage Road on home this Saturday.

The defeat was the home side’s third straight league loss of the season.

On the 15th anniversary of his West Ham debut, Mark Noble put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.

Manuel Lanzini was crudely chopped down in the box by Abdoulaye Doucoure in the opening minute to earn the visitors the spot kick.

Andre Gray scored Watford’s first goal of the season to put the home side level in the 17th minute, latching on to a Will Hughes pass and lashing the ball home first time.

After a superb attacking display in the first half, Watford started the second period brightly but the wheels came off when Hughes missed from point-blank range after more good work by Gray.

That mistake was to prove costly in the 64th minute as Felipe Anderson got free down the left before angling a pass in to the feet of Haller.

The sign new man, who reportedly cost the Hammers 45 million pounds from Eintracht Frankfurt in July, fired home with ease.

The 23-year-old French striker sealed the Hammers’ first win of the season with an acrobatic overhead kick nine minutes later after Michail Antonio’s header was palmed on to the crossbar by Ben Foster. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Silas Nwoha

Sport

English FA Cup: Manchester City crush Watford 6-0 to complete treble in style

Treble
London, May 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Raheem Sterling scored a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Watford 6-0 in the English FA Cup final match on Saturday at Wembley.

They have now become the first team to win the English treble of league championship and both domestic cups in spectacular style.

The victory matched the competition’s record final win —- set when Bury beat Derby County 116 years ago.

Also, it was a fair reflection of yet another command performance by one of the best teams in the history of the English game.

This has come after they retained the English Premier League (EPL) title last week and won the League Cup earlier in a penalty kicks shootout over Chelsea.

Manchester City’s sixth FA Cup triumph made them the eighth team to win the prized League and FA Cup double and first since Chelsea in 2010.

“It was an incredible final for us and we have finished an incredible year,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said.

“To all the people at the club, a big congratulations, especially the players because they are the reason why we have won these titles.”

Manchester City led 2-0 at half-time through David Silva and Sterling.

They effectively sealed the win when Kevin de Bruyne came off the bench to smash in the third after 61 minutes.

Gabriel Jesus slotted the fourth before Sterling, who was brought up in Wembley, took centre stage with two more in the last 10 minutes.

He thus became the first player to score an FA Cup final hat-trick since Stan Mortensen in 1953 when Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3 in the “Matthews Final”.

“I grew up here and saw this stadium get built. It’s a massive dream come true to win trophies here,” Sterling said.

“It shows what the manager is building here. He said we needed to get the mentality right and we did that and did it exceptionally well.

“It’s been a long season with the World Cup as well, but everyone has been on their A-game and come through.”

Other than one early chance for Roberto Pereyra, Watford never looked remotely capable of ending their 30-year winless run against Manchester City.

It was their second appearance in the final, having lost 0-2 to Everton in 1984.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

EPL: Success absent as Watford whip Fulham into relegation

Relegation
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, April 3, 2019 (NAN) Super Eagles forward Isaac Success was absent from Watford’s matchday squad as the hosts whipped Fulham 4-1 in their English Premier League (EPL) clash at the Vicarage Road Stadium on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fulham were relegated from the EPL after the defeat left them 16 points adrift of the safety zone with five games remaining.

The Cottagers needed to avoid defeat to put off their inevitable demotion for another week and were level at half-time.

Ryan Babel equalised after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s stunning opener for the Hornets.

However, second-half goals from Will Hughes, Troy Deeney and Kiko Femenia condemned them to an immediate return to the Championship.

Success who has struggled to earn a regular playing spot in the second half of their Premier League campaign has made 25 EPL appearances for the Hornets this term.

He has scored once.

Watford have been impressive this season and move up to eighth with this comprehensive victory.

They are a point behind seventh-placed Wolves, who beat Manchester United 2-1 on Tuesday.

Javi Gracia’s side have already reached their highest points tally in the Premier League era and they go into Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Wolves in confident mood.(NAN)
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(Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Watford score late winner to spoil Rodgers’ Leicester debut

Debut
Watford (UK), March 3, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Watford’s Andre Gray scored a stoppage time winning goal for his side to win 2-1 as Leicester City began life under new boss Brendan Rodgers in underwhelming fashion on Sunday.

It meant Rodgers suffered a 1-2 defeat at his former club in the English Premier League (EPL).

Watford clinched victory in the second minute of added time as Troy Deeney latched on to a poor goal kick by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

He fed substitute Gray who held his nerve to score.

Watford had taken the lead through Deeney in the fifth minute.

The striker got his body across Wes Morgan and rose well to head home Gerard Deulofeu’s whipped ball from a free kick.

This resulted to his first goal in 10 matches at Vicarage Road.

Leicester responded after the break as Jamie Vardy ran onto a fine through ball from midfielder Youri Tielemens.

He dinked his finish over Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster for his 10th league goal of the season.

In spite of conceding an early goal, Leicester looked lively as the first half wore on.

But they were unable to convert their good build-up play into clear chances, as Watford comfortably maintained their defensive discipline.

Watford began the second half on the front foot as Deulofeu combined well with Roberto Pereyra to tee up Abdoulaye Doucoure whose curling shot from distance was swatted away by Schmeichel.

Vardy, who endured a heavy collision with Foster earlier in the match, was substituted minutes after scoring as he appeared to suffer a delayed reaction to the knock.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Yahaya Isah and Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Deulofeu hat-trick fires Watford to 5-1 win at Cardiff

Hat-trick
Cardiff (UK), Feb. 23, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Spaniard Gerard Deulofeu bagged a hat-trick as Watford hammered Cardiff City 5-1 on Friday to move up to seventh place in the English Premier League (EPL).

Deulofeu put Javi Gracia’s side ahead in the 18th minute after a mistake from Cardiff defender Bruno Manga, but it was after the break when Watford ran away with the game.

Deulofeu made it 2-0 with a clinical finish after a swift break in the 61st minute.

The former FC Barcelona and Everton winger completed his hat-trick after more poor defending from Neil Warnock’s side.

Deulofeu then turned creator, teeing up Troy Deeney for a simple tap-in as Watford romped into a four-goal advantage.

Cardiff, who are 17th and could fall back into the bottom three after this weekend’s games, pulled a goal back through defender Sol Bamba.

But Watford added further punishment with Deeney’s second in stoppage time.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Liverpool ease to victory at Watford to maintain pressure on Manchester City

Liverpool
Watford (UK), Nov. 24, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Liverpool maintained pressure on table-topping Manchester City with three second half goals to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory at Watford on Saturday.

After a largely uneventful first half, Mohamed Salah put the ball past Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster in the 67th minute before England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold scored a stunning second goal.

The 20-year-old beat Foster with a brilliant whipped free kick from 25 metres nine minutes later, before his international team mate Jordan Henderson was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Liverpool were not hindered by their numerical disadvantage, however, with Roberto Firmino adding a late third goal.

The win helped the visitors to extend their unbeaten start to the English Premier League season to 13 games.

Juergen Klopp’s side remain second with 33 points and trail champions Manchester City by two points after Pep Guardiola’s side beat West Ham United 4-0 on Saturday.

Watford slipped to eighth after a third game without victory.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Watford’s Nigerian forward Success moves to Malaga

NAN-S-25
Loan
Abuja, Jan. 31, 2018 (NAN) Watford FC winger Isaac Success has agreed to join Spanish side Malaga on a loan deal until the end of the season, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday.

Success, who made 19 appearances and scored one goal for Watford last season, has struggled to break into the team.

He featured once in the current campaign, in a 3-2 League Cup second round defeat by Bristol City in August.

Success, a 22-year-old Nigerian, signed for Watford from Granada in 2016 and will link up with the Spanish club’s former manager Jose Gonzalez who is now in charge at Malaga.

Malaga are bottom of La Liga with 13 points from 21 games.

Watford are 11th in the Premier League with 26 points and they appointed Spaniard Javi Gracia as manager this month after sacking Marco Silva.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)