OPINION - Five thoughts after Watford's 3-0 win over Liverpool
Name a positive superlative and that would apply to Watford's performance against Liverpool on Sunday.
Some felt that the game against the Reds would be the start of a tough run of fixtures for the Golden Boys. But this proved to be far from the truth, as the Hornets comfortably beat the Reds 3-0 at Vicarage Road, in what was the best display from a Watford side that I have seen for a number of years.
Here are five of my thoughts, after attending Sunday's game at Vicarage Road.
1 - Best performance I have ever seen from a Watford side
Now, I've seen some great performances from Watford team's over the years. But, bearing in mind that I'm 19, Sunday's performance was the best display I have ever seen from a Watford side during my time as a supporter. From the first whistle, we were well on top. We hassled the Reds all game and never gave them a moments piece. Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo were at their destructive best. Lucas, Skrtel and Sakho could not contain them, so much so that the latter was left on the floor as a result of another Ighalo scoop. Some say that the French defender is still trying to recover on the hallowed turf at Vicarage Road now. In midfield, Etienne Capoue and Ben Watson were superb as they hassled and harried the Reds in possession and provided suitable protection to the back four. On the wings, Almen Abdi and Jose Manuel Jurado worked hard all afternoon as they charged up-and-down the wings to support Watford's attacks and to help out the Hornets' full backs. In defence, Nathan Ake, Craig Cathcart, Miguel Britos and Allan Nyom were rock solid and they barely gave Liverpool a sniff at goal. On the whole, it was a fantastic team performance and one that we should be proud off. Without a shadow of a doubt, it was the best display that I have seen from a Watford side during my time as a fan.
2 - Deeney and Ighalo superb once again.
These two are just absolutely immense for the Hornets at the moment and they are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. Some pundits were saying that Deeney and Ighalo were one of the Premier League's best strike partnerships following Sunday's game and that is a statement that I completely agree with. They've got pace, they've got power, they've got a fantastic work rate and most importantly, they've both got a great eye for goal.
Against Liverpool on Sunday they were fantastic and at times, they left some of the Reds' defenders on the floor.
Although Deeney didn't get on the scoresheet on Sunday, it was his best performance of the season. His all-round play was excellent and he played a fantastic looping ball over the heads of the Liverpool defence to release Ighalo, which led to the Hornets' second goal. He dominated Skrtel and Sakho in the air and worked his socks off all game as per usual. He always gives 110% every game and his determination to lead from the front is admirable.
Deeney's partner in crime, Odion Ighalo, was also superb for the Hornets on Sunday. He worked so hard for the Golden Boys up top with Deeney, pressing the Liverpool defence with every opportunity. The Nigerian showed great strength to hold off Skrtel for his first goal and his second was a well-placed header following a sublime Valon Behrami cross. His speciality, the 'Ighalo Scoop', was once again on show, as he sent Sakho for an ice-cream in the second half. Could and probably should have had a hat-trick, but he could only draw a magnificent save from Adam Bogdan when through on goal mid-way through the second half. It was another magnificent performance from the front two and you will struggle to find two harder working strikers in the Premier League then Deeney and Ighalo.
3 - Nathan Ake continues to shine.
The on-loan Chelsea man just gets better and better with every game and looks every inch a top class player. Ake put in another superb display for the Golden Boys and he kept Adam Lallana in his back pocket all game, so much so that the England international was substituted midway through the second half as he was so ineffective. He put in a number of well-timed tackles, the best of which coming in the first half, when he superbly slid in to thwart a threatening Liverpool attack. Ake has also showcased that he isn't afraid to support the Golden Boys in attack as he frequently made a number of runs up field to support Almen Abdi. Equally comfortable with the ball at his feet, Ake has got a bright future ahead of him. I for one would love to see Ake at Watford permanently, but the way he is performing, I don't know whether I can see it. The powers at be at Chelsea must be impressed with how he is doing.
4 - Watson's role in the side goes unnoticed.
There are a lot of unsung heroes in this current Watford side and I feel Ben Watson is one of them. A lot of the time, the work he does goes unnoticed, but the role he plays for the side is so important. The former Wigan Athletic midfielder was superb once again on Sunday, as he broke up play throughout the game and excellently screened the Hornets' back four alongside Etienne Capoue. Watson never stopped running for 90 minutes and the only black mark on his performance was his miss-hit free-kick from a promising position in the second half. In my opinion, Watson is the defensive midfielder that the Hornets have been crying out for since the departure of Jonathan Hogg and he is such an important cog in this well-oiled Watford side. In my opinion, he was part of the reason why Watford achieved promotion last season and he has really made the step-up to the Premier League. Valon Behrami has got to work hard to dislodge Watson from this Watford side.
5 - Jurado improving with every game.
Jose Manuel Jurado has been criticised for his performances by a large section of Watford fans, myself included, since he arrived at Vicarage Road. But his performance against Liverpool on Sunday was his best in
a Watford shirt. He worked so hard for the team during the time he was on the pitch and wasn't afraid to track back to help Nathan Ake in defence. The Spaniard played a delightful through ball to play Ighalo in one-on-one during the second half, only for the Nigerian to draw a fine save from Adam Bogdan. He was unlucky not to notch his first goal in Watford colours against the Reds, as he just could not connect with Ighalo's cut-back in the second half. The Spaniard has been much improved in recent weeks and his performance against Liverpool was his best in a Watford shirt without a shadow of a doubt.