Watford boss Nigel Pearson insists Saturday's clash with Liverpool is a not "free hit" for his side.

The Hornets are heavy underdogs against the Premier League's runaway leaders.

But Pearson wants his players to take a positive attitude into the game, in the hope Jurgen Klopp's side have an off day.

"There's probably less expectation on us in this game than there might be on others, but it's our next game so there are three points up for grabs in every game you play," said Pearson.

"First and foremost, I want us to play as well as we can play, that's really what it's about.

"We don't like losing any game but we know we are certainly going to have to be at our best to give ourselves an opportunity in this game for sure.

"Free hit? We're in the Premier League and we want to stay here and so if you go into games writing off a number of games because you're playing against the top sides then you limit your opportunities.

"We just have to go out there and give it our best and if we're at our best and they're not quite at their best, who knows."