Odion Ighalo stars as Watford beat Liverpool after Adam Bogdan howler

Odion Ighalo scored a brace to help earn Watford an impressive 3-0 victory over Liverpool as the visitors' stand-in goalkeeper Adam Bogdan suffered a nightmare display at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Bogdan started in goal for Jurgen Klopp's side with Simon Mignolet ruled out through injury, but the 28-year-old Hungary international was at fault for Watford's opener after just three minutes.

The keeper failed to collect Ben Watson's corner at the first attempt and then spilled the ball again to allow Nathan Ake to tap in from close range, despite appealing in vain to referee Mark Clattenburg after the Hornets defender appeared to kick the ball out of his hands.

Things soon got worse for Liverpool as Ighalo continued his impressive goal scoring form, racing onto a high Troy Deeney through-ball and holding off Martin Skrtel all too easily before beating Bogdan with a fine half-volley from a tight angle 15 minutes in.

Bogdan continued to struggle under the pressure, and was fortunate not to provide a third for Watford after managing to punch the ball into the face of teammate Lucas Leiva rather than catch a simple pass just past the half-hour mark.

With Dejan Lovren already on the sidelines, Liverpool's defensive injury woes continued with Skrtel forced off after 40 minutes after landing awkwardly on his back earlier on -- though Klopp elected to replace the centre-back with striker Divock Origi rather than Kolo Toure.

Liverpool offered little going forward in the first half, with Heurelho Gomes only called into action to make a routine save from the disappointing Philippe Coutinho as Quique Sanchez Flores' side dominated.

The visitors rallied after the break but could not find an early goal, and Watford almost added a third when Ighalo capitalised on a slip from Mamadou Sakho 63 minutes in -- but Bogdan made amends with a superb one-on-one save to tip the ball over the bar.

Klopp's side then went close as Gomes did brilliantly to tip Jordan Henderson's dipping half-volley over the bar as the game opened up, with Klopp bringing on Christian Benteke and Jordon Ibe for Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino with 17 minutes remaining.

But Liverpool could not find a way back despite the changes and left themselves open on the break, with Watford adding a fantastic third with a flowing team move that ended with Ighalo heading in Valon Behrami's right-wing cross five minutes from time.

The win sees Watford sitting seventh after 17 games with 28 points -- just one behind fourth-placed Tottenham. Klopp's side, meanwhile, trail Watford by four points in ninth spot.

Jordon Ibe Settles For England

Liverpool Winger “Jordan Ibe” as pitched his tent with England worldwide team ahead of african giant “Nigeria”. The England born teenager with a Nigeria root as an option to play for either of the two National side. 

However, Super Eagles Boss “Sunday Oliseh” took to the social media to inform the public on the young lad decision to stay with the three lions “Jordon Ibe’s Family Informed me by a Telephone call, that He was giving priority to an England call up.We wish them well.” 

Jordon joined The reds from Wycombe Wanderers in 2012, and since then played for Brimingham, and Derby County on a loan deal.

Photo: Liverpool’s ‘loyal’ Jordon Ibe sports new haircut

Jordon Ibe was preaching loyalty as the Liverpool forward sported a new haircut on his Instagram account on Sunday night. 

The Reds teenager is presently enjoying his summer break after his breakthrough season at the Merseyside outfit. 

Ibe appears to have developed a fascination for all things Asian in recent months after a series of posts on the photo-sharing app. 

And the Liverpool man posted the above snap of his new trim accompanied by a caption in Chinese, which translates to “loyalty”. 

Ibe underlined his commitment to the five-time European champions earlier this summer after he signed a new long-term contract. 

The England Under-21 international’s team-mate Raheem Sterling hasn’t shown the same loyalty to Liverpool, though.

Ibe: Klopp a ‘father figure’ at Liverpool

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe has described manager Jurgen Klopp as a “father figure” for young players at the club. 

Since the arrival of Klopp at Anfield in October, Ibe has relished for the Reds, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-0 Europa League win against Rubin Kazan.

And the 20-year-old has revealed that actions of Klopp, including a slap to the face after his first game in charge, is all new to him.

Speaking to The Independent, Ibe said: “I’ve not experienced any of this before, it’s all new for me.”

“The shouting at Tottenham? It’s not really a [big] thing. It happens to others. He wanted me to hurry up. The little slap on the head? He meant it in a good way, I think.”

Ibe recalls when Nathaniel Clyne was on the receiving end of a Klopp slap, one that he feels was carried out with the best intentions.

“He does it for encouragement: to get you going,” said Ibe. “He’s slapped me three or four times now! I’m not the only one, though.

“Clyney I think he got it the worst after one game. There was a six-second Vine of it; you should have seen Clyney’s face!

“If there’s a message he wants to get across, he’ll let you know and it might be with swear words. There is a boundary. We know he’s the boss.

“One on one, he’s really good. He’s building relationships. The older players, you can see the respect they have for him. With the younger ones like me he’s a father figure. He’s cool, you know? He understands. On the pitch you don’t feel any pressure.

“You can see he’s wanted to use a lot of young players so far: like Jordan Rossiter who has been unavailable through injury, Cam Brannagan, Connor Randall and Brad Smith.

“It’s the freedom he gives you, letting you get on with what you need to do, just making sure you work hard at the same time.”.

Klopp warned us of his ‘demon’ – Jordon Ibe provides insight into manager’s methods

Jordon Ibe has been the player most on the receiving end of some of Jurgen Klopp‘s unique approaches to man-management in these opening months of the German’s reign at Anfield.

Ibe was the subject of Klopp’s ire when he wasn’t ready to be subbed on in the new manager’s opening game at Tottenham, which resulted in the first showing of a Klopp slap for the then-teenager post-match.

“He meant it in a good way, I think,” says Liverpool’s no. 33.

“He does it for encouragement: to get you going. He’s slapped me three or four times now! I’m not the only one, though. Clyney too: I think he got it the worst after one game. There was a six-second Vine of it; you should have seen Clyney’s face!”

Recently having turned 20, Ibe is maturing under Klopp’s guidance and explains how the new manager had warned the squad of his ‘demon’ side.

“He told us at the beginning that he’s got that in him – to be like a demon. That was the word he used, ‘demon’.”

From those early moments on the receiving end of Klopp’s ‘demon’, Ibe has had his fair share of post-match hugs too, not least after his first goal for the club against Rubin Kazan.

“One on one, he’s really good. He’s building relationships,” says Ibe in an interview with the Independent’s Simon Hughes.

“The older players, you can see the respect [they have for him]. With the younger ones like me he’s a father figure. He’s cool, you know? He understands. On the pitch you don’t feel any pressure.”

The boss doesn’t get overly friendly with the squad though, ensuring they know who’s in charge.

“If there’s a message he wants to get across, he’ll let you know and it might be with swear words. There is a boundary. We know he’s the boss.”

Ibe also explains how much the manager emphasises work rate off the ball, and the importance of the final 10 minutes of games.

“The thing that’s in his heart is the work off the ball: winning tackles. From the youngest player to the oldest player in the team, he’s given them freedom. Say I might lose the ball four times, I won’t hear anything from him, unless I don’t work to get it back.

“He says the last 10 minutes is the most crucial part of the game. Maybe that’s why he’s mentioned fans leaving. We need to build on the emotion and get them excited – get them to stay.”

The England under-21 international speaks also of Klopp allowing players to play without pressure, motivating them: “We can make history. The manager, he helps make us believe.”