A STEVEN GERRARD goal 11 minutes into the second-half was all that seperated Liverpool and Watford tonight at Anfield as the Hornets turned in another heroic Carling Cup performance in this Semi-Final first leg.

Watford more than matched their illustrious Premiership opponents and Ray Lewington's men will have every confidence of overturning the 1-0 defeat when the two sides meet at Vicarage Road for the second leg in a fortnight's time (Wednesday, January 25).

In an even first-half, it as Watford who looked the more dangerous and the visitors came close with a Brynjar Gunnarsson header which was well gathered by Jerzy Dudek.

However, the Premership side - aided by the introduction of substitute Milan Baros - stepped up a gear in the second-half and could have taken the lead when Neil Mellor was sent clean through but Paul Jones saved well with his legs.

When Liverpool did move ahead, it was in slightly fortuitous circumstances. Baros was played in down the let and his cross looked to be slightly deflected by Neil Cox before rebounding off Jones into the path of Gerrard 15 yards out. The England midfielder let fly and the ball looked to be creeping into the left-hand corner but Cox's attempted clearance header only succeeded in helping the ball into the goal.

Liverpool tried to use the goal as a springboard to wrap up the tie but it was Watford who pushed on in the latter stages.

Heidar Helguson almost scored a dramatic leveller two minutes from time but, after latchng onto Jermane Darlington's though ball, Traore made a superb last-gas tackle just as the Icelandic International was about to let fly.

Liverpool: J Dudek, S Finnan, J Carragher, D Traore, J Riise; A Nunez, S Gerrard, D Hamann (I Biscan 71), S Luis Garcia; N Mellor (53 M Baros), F Sinama Pongolle (78 S Warnock). Subs: D Potter, P Harrison.

Watford: P Jones, J Chambers, N Cox, J DeMerit, J Darlington; P Devlin, B Gunnarsson, N Ardley (D Blizzard 81), G Mahon, H Bouazza; H Helguson Subs: A Chamberlain, B Dyer, D Webber, L Doyley.

Ref: S Dunn.

Att: 35,739.

For a more comprehensive report, see the Watford FC match reports section