Stoppage-time leveller sees Watford, Liverpool share six goals

Watford equalised in stoppage time to draw 3-3 against Liverpool in their opening game of the Premier League season.

Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah netted for the Reds after Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure gave Watford a half-time lead. Miguel Britos scored from a corner in the 93rd minute to rescue a point for Watford.

Watford started strongly and nearly took the lead when Roberto Pereyra’s shot was blocked by Dejan Lovren. That deflected the ball out for a corner and the Liverpool defence fell asleep for target man Okaka to head in unmarked from six yards.

The Hornets continued to dominate the first 20 minutes with Liverpool struggling to create anything through their attacking trio of Firmino, Mane and Salah.

Young full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold gifted a chance to Watford when his pass was intercepted by Nordin Amrabat. He tried to find Okaka in the penalty area but Simon Mignolet came out to punch the ball clear.

Liverpool scored an unlikely equaliser on the half-hour mark when Mane burst clear of the Watford defence to finish in the top corner after Emre Can’s through ball.

Watford exposed Liverpool’s defensive frailties to regain the lead just two minutes later. Doucoure played the ball down the right before bursting into the penalty area to pick up the low cross and hammer the ball into the net.

Salah should have opened his Liverpool account before half time but he somehow sent the ball over the bar from six yards. Mane then headed wide from a corner in stoppage time.

Another chance fell to Salah after the restart but his shot curled wide from 15 yards.

Liverpool turned the match on its head with two goals in the space of three minutes. First, Firmino converted from the penalty spot after Salah was taken down by Heurelho Gomes.

Salah finally converted one of his chances to give Liverpool the lead. Firmino burst through to pick up Lovren’s long ball before attempting to lob Gomes. That shot was heading wide but Salah was on hand to volley the ball in from close range.

Alberto Moreno could have doubled the lead shortly after but his long-range drive was tipped over by Gomes. Joel Matip rose highest at the resulting corner but the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Liverpool were dominant in the closing stages and Lovren could also have got his name on the scoresheet but his header forced an excellent save from Gomes.

Despite getting a debut goal, Salah missed a host of chances and that trend continued when he sent the ball into the side-netting when one-on-one.

Liverpool looked to be seeing out the game safely until stoppage time but Britos bundled the ball in at a corner to level the score.

Cover Photo: Crest by cchana used under license by CC BY 2.0.

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1 Response

  1. 12/08/2017 17:22

    […] Watford, Liverpool share six goals […]

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