Watford v Liverpool: Live matchday blog
Liverpool began the 2017-18 season with a 3-3 draw at Watford as Miguel Britos's late, late goal ensured the game ended in stalemate.
Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah had all earlier struck to give the Reds the lead, cancelling out efforts from Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Click on the image of the boss below to read his thoughts on Liverpool's display, Salah's goalscoring debut and defending set-pieces...
Jürgen Klopp in his post-match press conference...
"It's difficult to accept, it feels not too good. But we know we can do better."
The story of today's game in Opta widgets...
Full Time
Reds begin with a draw
Liverpool's campaign gets under way with a 3-3 draw at Watford, but the Reds will be hugely disappointed they let all three points slip.
Goals from Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino (penalty) and Mohamed Salah gave them a 3-2 lead, cancelling out efforts from Stefano Okaka and Adboulaye Doucoure.
However, deep into stoppage-time, the Hornets secured a point when Miguel Britos scrambled the ball over the line at a corner to leave Jürgen Klopp's men frustrated.
Goal
Goal for Watford - Britos
The home side equalise right at the death with a bizarre goal from a corner that strikes Britos yards out before going in off the crossbar.
Last change for the Reds and Alexander-Arnold makes way for Gomez.
Five minutes of added time to be played...
Substitution
Second change and Salah makes way for Milner.
Mane pulls the ball back for Wijnaldum just inside the area, but he scoops wide.
Substitution
Liverpool make their first change and Firmino makes way for Origi.
Mane slides Salah into space in the box again after the No.11 burst forward from deep, but he stabs into the side netting.
Salah chests down Moreno's pass on the edge of the box and smacks a half-volley over the bar.
Another brilliant corner from Alexander-Arnold picks out Lovren, whose glancing header is kept out by a fine save by Gomes.
Trent's delivery has been outstanding from set plays today
Off the bar!
The ball comes back off the crossbar from Alexander-Arnold's corner - looked like it came off the shoulder of Amrabat last.
Moreno whacks one towards the top corner, which Gomes needs to tip over the crossbar.
Substitution
Final change for the Hornets - Gray is on for Okaka.
Yellow Card
Trent Alexander-Arnold is booked.
Goal
GOAL! MOHAMED SALAH!
Liverpool take the lead for the first time this afternoon as Lovren's ball forward picks out Firmino's brilliant run in from the left. The Brazilian, eying a second goal, lofts it over the advancing Gomes, though it lacks power - but Salah is on hand to nudge it over the line for a debut strike!
Goal
GOAL! ROBERTO FIRMINO!
Bobby makes no mistake from the spot!
Penalty to Liverpool!
The Reds have a spot kick after Gomes brought down Salah inside the box.
Substitution
Watford forced into another change due to injury - this time Pereyra makes way for Richarlison.
Salah steps inside and tries to curl into the far bottom corner, but he's off target.
Kick-Off
We're back under way
Gini Wijnaldum re-starts the game.
Half-time odds
Here's how BETVICTOR see the betting at the break...
Watford 6/5
Draw 2/1
Liverpool 27/10
Fancy a bet? Click here to place one with BETVICTOR.
The tale of the first half in numbers...
Half Time
Reds trail at the break
Liverpoiol find themselves 2-1 down at half-time as goals from Stefano Okaka and Abdoulaye Doucoure give Watford the lead. Sadio Mane was on target for the Reds.
Mane meets Firmino's corner with his head, but glances a foot wide of the far post.
Henderson's clever ball back into the area from a half-cleared Liverpool free-kick is met by Salah, but he scoops his attempted cross behind the goal.
Chance
The first real sight of Salah's pace as he bursts into the area, but stabs over the crossbar when faced with Gomes.
Yellow Card
Sadio Mane goes into the book for a late challenge on Doucoure.
Goal for Watford - Doucoure
Parity didn't last long as the home team re-take the lead - and it's another goal Liverpool will be disappointed with.
This time, Cleverley gets into space inside the area and squares across goal. The Reds don't deal with it, allowing Doucoure to slot in.
Goal
GOAL! SADIO MANE!
Liverpool are level thanks to a wonderful, wonderful goal by Sadio Mane, who plays a one-two with Emre Can before steering beyond Gomes.
Amrabat's ball into the box causes panic, but Mignolet manages to scramble away the danger before play is halted due to an offside flag.
Substitution
Watford are forced into an early change as Janmaat limps off with a knock. He's replaced by Femenia.
Henderson's searching ball into the area picks out Mane, but he can't get it under control.
Ahead of kick-off, Liverpool supporters in the away end displayed their solidarity with the family of Tony Bland by holding aloft the banner below.
It was presented to them by Danny Ward and Ryan Kent, who travelled with the squad to Vicarage Road,
Goal
Goal for Watford - Okaka
Liverpool are punished for some poor marking at a corner as Okaka arrives to thump a close-range header beyond Mignolet and put Watford in front.
Another chance for the hosts as Pereyra breaks forward at speed and twists and turns away from Lovren; however, the centre-back recovers to make a crucial block on the forward's eventual shot.
Liverpool have started promisingly here, but they survive an early scare as Mane doesn't get the free-kick he wants for a challenge by Janmaat which sends him to the turf. The Watford full-back crosses dangerously, but Matip heads clear under pressure.
Kick-Off
And we're off!
Liverpool's 2017-18 season is up and running as Watford kick us off at Vicarage Road.
Come on you Reds!
Here come the teams...
Match odds
Here's how BETVICTOR sees the betting ahead of kick-off...
Watford 11/2
Draw 33/10
Liverpool 4/7
Fancy a flutter? Click here to place a bet with BETVICTOR.
The Reds have arrived
Inside the away dressing room...
...as is Jürgen Klopp.
Simon Mignolet is on pre-match media duties for the Reds...
TEAM NEWS
Here we go, then.
Liverpool’s first Premier League starting XI of the season is as follows...
Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
And the subs are: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Grujic, Solanke, Origi.
Up the Reds!
From the programme...
Watford boss Marco Silva: “We have had a good pre-season with lots and lots of hard work, but now is the time to show we are ready on the pitch. We know playing against a very good team like Liverpool will not be easy, but we have prepared well and we must play always with confidence.”
The stage is set...
10 of the best opening-day wins
We're sure your appetite requires little whetting at this stage but just in case, why not sit back and enjoy 10 of Liverpool's most memorable starts in the Premier League era?
Here's hoping somebody emulates the likes of Owen, Gerrard, Torres, Sturridge, Mane...
Arsenal and Leicester kicked off the new season with a Friday-night thriller, the Gunners eventually coming back to win 4-3 in the very first game of 2017-18.
Here's what else is happening around the division today...
Weather
The first weather update of the season is here
A special moment.
It's a cloudy day in Watford but temperatures are a reasonable 18 degrees ahead of this early kick-off. Our official recommendation is jacket rather than coat but, as ever, the choice is yours.
It will be a long while before any game between the Reds and Watford passes by without mention of Emre Can's ridiculous overhead kick winner back in May.
Any excuse to watch it again...
Team news
Jürgen Klopp is without four players today - Philippe Coutinho (back), Daniel Sturridge (thigh), Nathaniel Clyne (back) and Adam Lallana (thigh).
Jordan Henderson is fine, however, after a brief bout of illness last week.
Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson will hope for their competitive debuts.
The manager has also confirmed that Simon Mignolet will start in goal, having emerged from the three-man competition with Loris Karius and Danny Ward as the choice for the season opener.
Ready?
So, nine months of action, drama, tension and - hopefully - success begins today.
The Premier League is back and the first appointment for Liverpool is a clash with Watford at Vicarage Road.
It's a new season but you can count on the same comprehensive coverage in our matchday blogs - so stay right here to follow the opener.