A precious victory keeps Champions League hopes alive

Liverpool cashed in on their rivals' weekend slip ups as they re-ignited their Champions League charge on a nervy night at Vicarage Road.

Kopites were put through the wringer but Jurgen Klopp's men dug deep to grind out a precious victory over Watford.

Emre Can's goal of the season contender proved enough to ensure the Reds strengthened their grip on third place and put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

Now just Southampton, West Ham and Middlesbrough stand between Liverpool and the riches of returning to Europe's elite. The finish line is in sight. Momentum has been regained.

This top-four push should be accompanied with a health warning because it's not good for the blood pressure, but from this position it really should have a happy ending.

Serious questions were asked about Liverpool's bottle and ability to hold their nerve following that demoralising defeat to Crystal Palace.

Would they crumble under pressure? The answer was emphatic as they took full advantage of Manchester City and Manchester United dropping points on Sunday.

What a contrast to the Reds' previous visit to Vicarage Road under Klopp when they were bullied and embarrassed 3-0.

This time they showed the backbone that Klopp has instilled as they delivered a performance brimming with desire, guts and team spirit.

Once again they had to triumph in the face of adversity after the crushing blow of Philippe Coutinho limping off early on.

In his absence, others took responsibility. Not least Can, whose stunning volley just before the break was worthy of winning any game. The technique and the execution was world class.

When Liverpool's depleted squad has needed leaders in recent months, the Germany international has stepped up. Getting him to commit to a new deal continues to rise up Klopp's list of priorities.

Defensively, the Reds were unrecognisable as Dejan Lovren produced the perfect response to his Palace nightmare.

Fellow centre-back Joel Matip was equally commanding alongside him with Simon Mignolet producing another faultless display behind them.

There was a major scare at the death when Sebastian Prodl hammered against the woodwork but Liverpool deserved that slice of luck.

Can's strike in first-half stoppage time brought the contest to life after a largely forgettable opening 45 minutes.

Watford's game plan was no different to the one that worked so well for Palace a week earlier as they sat deep and defended in numbers, looking to frustrate Liverpool and then hit them on the counter.

Klopp's men dominated possession but struggled to make it count. There was no spark. Their build up play was too slow and predictable.

They weren't helped by the fact that Coutinho's night was over before he had barely had time to break into a sweat.

The Brazilian attacker tried to battle on after being clattered by Adrian Mariappa but belatedly admitted defeat – watching the rest of the game sitting on the bench with his right thigh heavily strapped.

Adam Lallana replaced him as the England international made his eagerly awaited comeback after five weeks out injured.

Lallana took his place on the right side of Klopp's front three and immediately reminded Kopites what they had been missing as he started to link play intelligently.

Liverpool got into some great areas but too often the delivery from wide areas was poor with full-backs Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner wasteful in the final third.

Can's fierce 25-yarder was tipped away by Heurelho Gomes as the Reds continued to huff and puff in search for a breakthrough.

At the other end there were few scares. Troy Deeney had a field day against Liverpool's backline at Vicarage Road last season but not this time.

Lovren and Matip stood up to the challenge posed by Deeney and the on-loan M'Baye Niang as they put their bodies on the line.

Three minutes before the break the Reds were inches away from going in front.

Lallana latched on to Prodl's defensive header and sent it back with interest. His dipping 20-yard volley was far too good for Gomes but cannoned back off the underside of the bar.

Divock Origi , who came to life after a painfully slow start, wasn't able to win the battle for the rebound.

Lucas Leiva clearly spent too much of his Sunday watching Liverpool's top-four rivals in action as he followed their lead with a bout of theatrics – throwing himself to the ground after knocking it past Tom Cleverley.

The long-serving midfielder was rightly booked but his next contribution to the evening was infinitely more impressive.

Lallana and Origi combined to find Lucas, who spotted Can's burst into the box and clipped an inviting lofted pass in his direction.

What followed was simply sensational as the former Bayer Leverkusen man launched himself into a bicycle kick 14 yards out – the ball arrowing beyond Gomes and into the corner.

The travelling Kop erupted with Can's celebrations taking him up to the halfway line and into the welcoming arms of his jubilant manager before he was mobbed by his teammates.

The goal seemed to provide every player in red with an injection of energy and belief.

In the second half Liverpool attacked with far more purpose and should have wrapped up the points.

Milner's free-kick was kept out by Gomes before Origi's curling effort was turned behind.

Origi raced through again soon after but after holding off Prodl he couldn't beat the keeper.

Watford rallied with referee Craig Pawson the only one inside Vicarage Riad who didn't spot that Mignolet had expertly tipped over Etienne Capoue's piledriver.

It was another fine performance from the resurgent Reds keeper, who commanded his penalty box brilliantly and didn't put a foot wrong.

As the hosts started to throw caution to the wind, Liverpool should have finished them off on the counter.

Can teed up Lallana but his first touch let him down and Nordin Amrabat got back to clear.

With Daniel Sturridge replacing Origi and Ragnar Klavan on for the tiring Lallana, the finale was frenetic.

Mignolet's sprawling save thwarted Daryl Janmaat before Sturridge was denied by Gomes.

Liverpool were seconds away from victory when the ball dropped kindly to Prodl, who thumped it against the bar.

Relief engulfed those in red. Their Champions League fate remains firmly in their own hands.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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