Watford vs Liverpool Betting tips

How Liverpool need a lift. The Reds have been battered twice in their own back yard in their last two games by Arsenal, firstly in the third round of the FA Cup, and then in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup. After conceding nine goals in the two games in question, you would have to worry about the current mindset of Rafa Benitez's charges. Indeed, Pool have conceded just three goals and are unbeaten in their 11 Premiership matches played at Anfield so far this term, yet Arsenal managed to put nine goals pass Jerzy Dudek in the space of three goals. It's all the more disconcerting for Liverpool that Arsenal virtually fielded their reserve team in the latter of the two cup ties, yet scored six and controlled the game. Given that they are 14 points adrift of Man Utd in the Premiership - and have the unenviable task of facing Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League - the chances of Liverpool capturing any silverware this season is looking pretty slim. If the players have not awoken from this coma by the weekend, they'll be in for a rude awakening against the Hornets at Vicarage Road. Although Watford are not in the same parish as Liverpool, and their fight for Premiership survival is likely to be in vain, the visitors are poor on their travels at the best of times, so quite what we should expect of the Reds following their demoralising defeats against Arsenal is anybody's guess. Liverpool have won just three and scored just nine times in 11 Premiership fixtures on the road. Admittedly, Adrian Boothroyd's men have won just one their nine league matches in their Hertfordshire lair, but they have drawn five times and they have performed well on each of the three occasions in which they've been beaten at home, including when posting creditable performances in defeat against Arsenal and Man Utd. It's likely that Benitez will field a more less full-strength side in this encounter - albeit Mark Gonzalez may be unavailable after picking up an injury in the Carling Cup match on Tuesday - but, even so, I very much doubt that they will be in the right frame of mind to lock horns with this tenacious Watford side, who will fight tooth and nail for each and every solitary point that they can pick up. Watford's problem is that they simply don't score enough goals - Darius Henderson has had a torrid time of it, failing to score in 18 matches in all competitions so far during the current campaign, while arguably their best striker, Marlon King, has been on the easy list since October. Boothroyd needs to get busy in the transfer window and a striker has to be at the top of his shopping list. I can see this match ending all square, but the most alluring punting proposition lies elsewhere. At 9/4 with Stan James, backing 0-1 in the total goals market rates by far the best bet. Combine Watford's lack of firepower with Liverpool's inability to score outside on their travels - not to mention the recent confidence battering they have taken - and this game looks set to be a close run thing with very few goals. Verdict - 0-1 in the total goals market @ 9/4 (Stan James)