Liverpool face vengeful Watford

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has encouraged his team to relish the battle for Champions League qualification as they look to preserve their top-four place at Watford today.

Liverpool topped the Premier League table in November and looked poised to mount a title tilt, but a top-four finish is now the only thing they can now hope to salvage from their season.

While they could be out of the top four by kick-off at Vicarage Road, Klopp wants his players to remain mindful of how privileged their position is.

"It is the last month and we are in the battle. So what else do we want?"

Klopp hopes to be able to call upon England pair Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom resumed training with the first team on Friday.

Midfielder Lallana has been out for over a month with a groin injury, while striker Sturridge sat out the loss to Palace due to a sore hip.

Captain Jordan Henderson remains sidelined with an ongoing foot issue, along with Sadio Mane, Ragnar Klavan and Danny Ings.

Liverpool last won at Watford in January 2007, having been condemned to a 3-0 defeat on their most recent trip to Vicarage Road in December 2015.

Watford sit 10th in the table and have reached the 40-point mark that is traditionally synonymous with survival.

But head coach Walter Mazzarri says his side should be motivated by a desire to avenge their one-sided 6-1 defeat at Anfield in November, in which Liverpool went 5-0 up inside an hour.

"Liverpool will be angry after losing at home [to Palace], but I hope my players will be more angry as we lost at Hull and conceded six goals at Anfield," said the Italian.