Liverpool 2 – 0 Watford
by James Nalton
at Anfield

LIVERPOOL took a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 victory against Watford on Saturday.

Anfield was fairly subdued for the noon kick-off. It’s been a tough week for the city of Liverpool which, after the election, represents a solid block of red in a sea of Conservative blue.

Even the neighbouring working-class towns of Lancashire decided to choose a different direction, leaving Liverpool looking more isolated than ever on the political map.

But it’s a city that looks outward as well as to its roots. And this will help people pick themselves up and — to use football parlance — go again.

Many of the banners present in the Kop are connected to the labour movement as much as they are to the football club, representing the fight for justice and equality.

And it was no coincidence that an image of socialist Bill Shankly adorned the front of the matchday programme as Liverpool welcomed Watford to Anfield with the post-election hangover lingering — as it might for some time.

Within its pages, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp took the opportunity to send a message of collectivism to fans ahead of the Christmas period.

“These are difficult times across the world and it is so sad that so many look for what divides us rather than a sense of community and society that can bring us together,” he said.

“We have a supporter base with such rich diversity that many will observe this time of year in their own way and some will choose not to at all. It’s why, for me, football is so great in the team and dressing-room sense.

“In a dressing-room, you don’t look at someone and see colour, creed, sexuality or anything of that nature. You see a friend, a team-mate, someone who you can help and someone who can help you.

“Someone that by working together you can have better collective experiences than if you tried to do it on your own.”

Klopp is not as direct as Shankly with his political statements, but his underlying messages are the same. The last line is very Shankly-esque, echoing the Scotsman’s statement: “The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards,” in football and in life.

Klopp signed a new contract at Liverpool on Friday — the day after the election — and though he understands his responsibility is to manage the football club, he realises that this and football can have an effect beyond sport.

“If the people wanted a lift today and they feel it is a lift, then they are welcome,” he said after signing the new contract.

“That’s nice. I feel the same. It is the same strange feeling after what happened yesterday, which was tough to take.”

Speaking to the club’s website he further reinforced his links to the club and the city, saying: “When the call came in autumn 2015, I felt we were perfect for each other. If anything, now I feel I underestimated that.”

Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners against Watford thanks to two goals from Mohamed Salah. It was a tricky game for the league leaders and the visitors missed a number of good chances. But Klopp’s side took the three points and are now 10 points clear at the top of the table.

They now travel to Qatar for the Club World Cup where they will face Mexico’s Monterrey in the semi-final on Wednesday, while their reserves will play Aston Villa in the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening.