Watford vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League team news and latest build-up today

Claudio Ranieri pulled off one of the great feats of the past 20 years when he led Leicester City to the Premier League title. Five clubs and half a decade on, he begins a new phase in his career when Watford face Liverpool at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

This seems an odd marriage. Ranieri turns 70 next week and has a peripatetic history – this is his 22nd job in management. Watford have parted company with eight managers since Leicester sealed their Premier League win. It is not hard to conceive that the Italian will no longer be in control in Hertfordshire in May. At Watford, the beginning of the end starts right at the beginning.

Aside from Pep Guardiola, Ranieri and Jurgen Klopp are the only two managers in the top flight who can boast about winning the league in England. Ranieri was sacked by Leicester nine months after the club’s greatest success. One day they will build a statue at Anfield to Klopp. The German’s legacy is secure. Ranieri’s is forever fated to be seen as avuncular but slightly lightweight, an image likely to be endorsed by this spell at Watford.

Claudio Ranieri admits he has evolved as a manager as he prepares to take charge of Watford for the first time.

The Italian who turns 70 next week, is back in the Premier League 21 years after he first arrived as Chelsea manager and he has had 12 jobs since then.

Two of those have been in England famously guiding Leicester to the title in 2016 and then a short stay at Fulham in 2019.

Watford come into this game 15^th in the Premier League table with just one win in their last six league matches. Last time out they were outplayed by Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United and an 18^th minute goal from Diego Llorente was enough to see the Whites to victory.

Liverpool meanwhile were twice pegged back by Manchester City as their last match before the international break ended 2-2 at Anfield. Four second half goals saw Sadio Mane put the Reds in front before Phil Foden capped off a very good individual performance with an equaliser. Mo Salah sent Liverpool back in front with 15 minutes to play but Kevin De Bruyne rescued a point for City five minutes later.

That draw leaves Liverpool in second place, one point behind Chelsea, but they can regain top spot with a win over Watford today. At least for a few hours until Chelsea take on Brentford at 5:30pm.

New Watford manager Claudio Ranieri was given a boost as forward Joshua King has recovered from a minor knee ligament injury but this game against Liverpool may come too soon for his return.

Definitely missing are Francisco Sierralta and Christian Kabasele who both picked up hamstring injuries in the defeat to Leeds.

Jurgen Klopp will have to do without Brazilian pair Alisson and Fabinho as they will be flying straight from international duty to Madrid for the Reds Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Curtis Jones and Thiago Alcantara are out but Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold are fit to return.

Over the last month there has been a lot of debate about Salah’s contract situation as he has yet to follow the example of a number of senior players this year and sign an extension to a deal which expires in the summer of 2023.

Reports suggest the stumbling block is the Egypt international’s wages, with claims that Salah looking for £300,000-a-week-plus so he can have parity with some of the Premier League’s top earners.

The 20-year-old was absent from the 2-2 draw against Slovenia due to a groin problem.

Ahead of the Under-21s’ match against Andorra four days later, manager Lee Carsley insisted England “definitely won’t be taking any risks.”

Jurgen Klopp claims that Newcastle United’s takeover will lead to a “new superpower” in European football.

The Saudi Arabia-backed takeover has given the Magpies an enormous financial boost, with Mike Ashley selling the club for £305 million.

The takeover has attracted widespread condemnation surrounding the country’s human rights record.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants more direct communication with football’s decision-makers as he does not believe the current situation is benefiting the game.

The German said he had spoken to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters only “once or twice” during his six years in England and did not think the league’s 14-vote threshold required to effect changes had produced much good for football in general.

Klopp, who has been outspoken on a number of issues he feels are detrimental to the game, also felt any discussions he has had with FIFA and UEFA have also fallen on deaf ears.

Watford: Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Rose; Sissoko, Kucka, Pedro, Tufan, Bonaventure; Sarr

Liverpool: Adrian; Milner, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Keita, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Mane