Watford 0-0 Liverpool: half-time player ratings

Watford and Liverpool are currently goalless at half-time in the Premier League in what has been an exciting opening half.

Liverpool enjoyed the better of the half, dominating position but Watford’s stern defence – and Ben Foster – have proved too strong for their opponents.

As it stands, Liverpool will be losing ground on league leaders Manchester City who lead West Ham United 3-0.

Here’s how the players have rated so far.

Watford

Ben Foster – 7 – Showed bravery in goal at times to collect tempting Liverpool crosses and denied all three of their attacking trio at different stages to keep it level.

Kiko Femenia – 6 – Had the tough task of dealing with Mane, but did his job well in the opening 45 minutes, restricting the forward’s impact on the wing.

Adrianne Mariappa – 6 – Was not tested enough by Liverpool’s attacking trio until late in the half, but held strong.

Craig Cathcart – 6 – Alongside Mariappa, kept Liverpool’s attack from threatening Foster in the Watford goal for most of the half, but did allow the attacking trio to get the better of him near the end.

Adam Masina – 6 – The more quiet of the two centre-backs, Masina did well up against Salah and Alexander-Arnold.

Will Hughes – 6 – Defending well to block the midfield for Liverpool, dropping deeper alongside Doucoure and Capoue when off the ball.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 6 – Doing well in midfield to limit Liverpool’s influence in the middle of the pitch, but could not stop Shaqiri from pulling the strings.

Etienne Capoue – 6 – Kept a lid on Liverpool’s midfield for most of the half, forming a good wall alongside Doucoure and Hughes.

Roberto Pereyra – 6 – Had a growing influence in the game as Liverpool pinned Watford back but could have hoped to do more to push forward. Had a good chance to put Watford ahead but saw his effort saved.

Gerard Deulofeu – 5 – Looked to have put Watford ahead after two minutes but just mistimed his run and was called offside. Was otherwise quiet in the first half.

Troy Deeney – 6 – Struggled to get into the game at the start, most notably demonstrated when he failed to capitalise on Alisson’s poor pass, spurning to chance to put Watford ahead. A trouble for Liverpool’s defenders to mark but did not test.

Liverpool

Alisson – 6 – Lucky not to gift Watford a goal inside 10 minutes, as his pass from the back was intercepted. Redeemed himself with a good save shortly before half-time in an otherwise quiet 45 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6 – Got forward a lot but failed to truly worry the Watford defence.

Dejan Lovren – 6 – Back in the Liverpool starting XI, replacing the injured Joe Gomez, Lovren had little to do but looked comfortable on the ball.

Virgil van Dijk – 6 – Defensively strong as usual, but largely untested in the first half.

Andrew Robertson – 6 – Defended well and got forward a lot but could not trouble Watford in the first half.

Georginio Wijnaldum – 6 – Slightly quiet in the first half as Liverpool spent a lot of their time out wide but helped move the ball around well.

Jordan Henderson – 6 – Like Wijnaldum, had little attacking influence on the first half, but was a calm head in the middle of the pitch.

Xherdan Shaqiri – 7 – Liverpool’s creative spark in the first half, looking to test the Watford backline with his passing but could not provide the assist his performance would have merited.

Mohamed Salah – 6 – Did not have too much success in the first half, but kept Masina on his toes. Had a good chance to opening the scoring with a free header, but it was saved by Foster.

Roberto Firmino – 5 – Dropped deep into midfield again, Firmino’s influence was restricted for the most par. But he did see a good effort saved by Foster shortly before half-time.

Sadio Mane – 6 – Lively at the start, barely giving Femenia a moment’s rest, but his only effort on goal was saved by Foster.

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