Liverpool's win streak, incredible unbeaten run ended by Watford

Invincible no more.

Liverpool suffered their first Premier League loss of the season on Saturday, succumbing, quite incredibly, to a 3-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Watford at Vicarage Road.

Second-half goals from Ismaila Sarr and Troy Deeney halted the Reds' unbeaten streak in league play at 44 matches.

Though the setback won't have any implications in Liverpool's quest for the title, it does snap their 18-match league winning streak; Jurgen Klopp's men fall one victory short of establishing a new benchmark in the English top flight. They hold the joint-record with Manchester City.

There will be celebrations in north London on the back of Watford's win, as Arsenal's status as the Premier League's only team to ever complete an undefeated season remains intact.

Liverpool, who last tasted defeat in a league match 422 days ago, looked sluggish from the opening kickoff on Saturday. The fluidity and intensity that has come to define the club amid its incredible unbeaten run was absent, replaced instead by an uncharacteristic timidity and sloppiness in possession.

Watford, despite losing Gerard Deulofeu to a potentially serious knee injury in the opening half, looked threatening throughout the contest. Sarr, who scored each of the Hornets' first two goals, wreaked havoc in the open field, taking advantage of a slack defensive display from the champions-elect.

After opening the scoring in the 54th minute, the young Senegalese winger doubled the advantage only six minutes later. Any hope that Liverpool could pull off another late fightback was dashed 20 minutes from time when Deeney calmly slotted the ball home after the visitors' backline once again became discombobulated.

Though various records are now off the table, Liverpool are still 22 points ahead of Manchester City for top spot, and they remain in complete control as they barrel toward their first league crown in 30 years.