Watford forward Gerard Deulofeu will miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in the 3-0 victory over Liverpool.
The Hornets ended the Reds’ 44-game unbeaten streak out of the relegation zone on Saturday, but that came at a price as Deulofeu was stretched with oxygen in the 37th minute.
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Deulofeu was clearly distressed
The Spaniard seemed to bend his knee after a fairly harmless meeting with Virgil van Dijk.
The replays immediately suggested a potentially late season move and Watford’s fears were confirmed by manager Nigel Pearson on Sunday.
The Watford boss told Sky Sports News: “Unfortunately for us, the results of the analysis show that he will likely be out for the rest of the season.
“He has an ACL [anterior cruciate ligament], which is really a bad thing for us because he was such an important player for us.
Angry Liverpool fan says on talkSPORT: “If we don’t win the Champions League, this season is a failure!”
“It is overwhelming for players when one of your colleagues is injured like that during a match.
“Pereyra came in yesterday and I thought he was doing very well. We will have to face it and it is important that we look forward with a positive mindset. “
Deulofeu, 25, is a key player for the Hornets and his absence puts a major dent in the club’s bid for Premier League survival.
Pearson’s men are out of the relegation zone only because of the goal difference, and they may be overtaken by Aston Villa, who has a game in hand.
