Liverpool had made an incredible start to the 2019-20 English Premier League season by winning 26 of their first 27 games and drawing the other.
The 18-time champions of England were on a 44 game unbeaten run in the league and an incredible 18 successive victories.
However, their invincibility has been tested in recent weeks – only beating bottom of the league Norwich City late on, and losing 1-0 away to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg.
The Reds were widely expected to pick up three points on Saturday evening when they travelled to 19th place Watford at Vicarage Road. The Hornets had been winless in their last four and beaten 2-0 at Anfield on 22 December 2019 in the reverse fixture.
After a scoreless first half, Liverpool started the second on top. However, after a few minutes of pressure they were caught out on the counter-attack as Ismaila Sarr put the hosts in front. The Senegalese forward haunted the Liverpool defence just five minutes later when he added a second.
As the runaway Premier League leaders pushed for a goal of their own, they were caught out on another counter-attack as Sarr this time setup teammate Troy Deeney to score from long range with only 18 minutes to play.
In the end, Jurgen Klopp’s side produced just one shot on target over the 90 minutes as they fell to a humbling defeat. Star centre-back Virgil van Dijk claimed after the game that the team had not discussed going the whole league season unbeaten at any point.
Liverpool supporters will be relieved to know that their side has a 22-point over defending champions Manchester City in second place, with only 10 games to go. There is simply no way that they won’t be lifting the trophy come May. Or more likely: March or April.
