Watford 0 Liverpool 1 – watch highlights: Emre Can’s acrobatic overhead stunner is the difference as Reds take giant leap towards top four

EMRE CAN'S acrobatic goal of the season contender proved enough for Liverpool to secure a 1-0 win away at Watford.

It also meant Liverpool kept alive their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League - four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, but having played a game more.

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But the Reds were dealt a huge slice of luck in the dying seconds when Daniel Prodl's strike crashed off the crossbar as Watford threw everything forward to secure a point.

The first half was largely one to forget, with only two flashpoints grabbing the attention.

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First, in the 31st minute, substitute Adam Lallana crashed a left-foot volley from 25 yards out that smashed against the crossbar and went clear.

The England man was introduced just 11 minutes into the game at Vicarage road to replace Philippe Coutinho, who came off the field injured.

Then Liverpool's German midfielder had his fans, as well as some Watford ones, on their feet with a truly spectacular goal, that in the end bagged a vital three points in their top-four quest.

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Facts, Stats, Goals and Lols

• Bank Holiday Monday Night Football on May Day did not totally capture the imagination of Watford, it’s fair to say. There were a few empty seats in the stands.
• The pre-match DJ had an absolute shocker, digging “Get Ready For This” by 2Unlimited out of the steaming vaults of early 90s dance.
• Adrian Mariappa got away with some early filth on Philippe Coutinho and Jurgen Klopp was like a sadist PE teacher, telling the Brazilian to try to run it off.

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• Adam Lallana’s return from injury therefore came earlier than anticipated, but will it be in time to secure a Champions League place for the Reds?
• Etienne Capoue’s goals may have dried up since that early season flourish, but if fantasy leagues gave points for first-five-minutes workrate, he’d still be everyone’s team.
• Walter Mazzarri spent much of the first half auditioning for a role in brother Alec Baldwin’s new film, The Fourth Official, contesting every decision, even those which went for him.
• Liverpool’s underwhelming attempts to break Watford down – until Emre Can’s wondergoal - were hindered by an inability to hit a decent cross and Divock Origi’s failure to hold the ball up.

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• Of all the suggestions of what to call the German midfielder’s legs-flailing volley, The Can Can was the best. Take a bow, Ian Baker.
• On a weekend of horrendous dives, Lucas managed to outdo Leroy Sane and Marcus Rashford with a shocking fall in the box. At least he was booked.
• Heurelho Gomes made three decent saves in the first 15 minutes of the second half but he always seems to make them look even more difficult than they actually are.

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Big Picture

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Social Says

Dream Team Ratings

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Clyne 6, Matip 8, Lovren 7, Milner 7, Can 8, Lucas 7, Wijnaldum 7, Firmino 6, Origi 6 (Sturridge, 84 6), Coutinho 6 (Lallana 13 7, Klavan 87 6)

Subs (not used): Karius, Grujic, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold

Goals: Can (45)

Booked: Lucas

Watford: Gomes 8, Mariappa 7, Prödl 7, Britos 6 (Kabasele 19 6), Amrabat 6 (Okaka, 85 6), Capoue 5 (Success, 73 5), Doucouré 6, Cleverley 6, Janmaat 6, Deeney 5, Niang 5

Subs (not used): Behrami, Zuñiga, Pantilimon, Eleftheriou

Goals: None

Booked: Prodl, Success, Capoue

Star man: Emre Can (Liverpool)

What They Said

Liverpool matchwinner Emre Can, speaking to Sky Sports: "I have never scored a goal like that - maybe when I was younger. That is the best goal I've ever scored.

"I saw the space and I ran behind and my first thought was that I wanted to head it, then I didn't think too much.

"But the most important thing was three points after knowing what happened yesterday. It was a big game for us.

"Everything is in our hands. If we win the three games we are in the Champions League. We are confident. If we perform how we can perform then we can do it."

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "Obviously it feels really good, it was a difficult game to play. We started really well, but then had to change when Philippe came off, a very important player.

"Adam has only trained twice in the last four weeks, so it was difficult for him

On Emre Can's worldie goal: "The goal was a spectacular one, but the pass was what we wanted to play, to get that space.

"The bicycle kick was really special and really good. I would like to say I'm used to it, but it's not the truth, especially not from Emre.

He can even play better than tonight, but I'm not sure he could score better goals.

On the win: "But it's deserved, in football you need some luck. We had the fantastic effort from Adam hitting the bar, then had the luck when they hit the bar.

"I thought the boys did well. We could have done better, but I am fine with the performance."

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Watford defender Adrian Mariappa: "We are disappointed to lose at home, hitting the bar late on aswell, yes, we are disappointed.

"We have been in good form at home, and we wanted to put the pressure on.

"They are a good side, we pushed them until the end, we didn't give up, we will look at the whole game and where we can improve and move on.

"We have four really big games left this season, we will just keep trying to get the points from all the games left."

On Emre Can's goal: "I think I came out of my slot too early, tried to anticipate the ball, but it was such a good finish, it's a tough one, but they are the margins."