Watford are set to be without Gerard Deulofeu for the rest of the season after Nigel Pearson confirmed the winger has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Spaniard was stretchered off in the first half of yesterday’s 3-0 victory over Liverpool after twisting his knee following a challenge with Virgil van Dijk.

Deulofeu was in clear distress after sustaining the injury and the Hornets head coach told Sky Sports News this lunchtime that scans had revealed an ACL injury.

Pearson said: “Unfortunately for us the scan results really show he is probably going to be out for the rest of the season.

"The initial scan results show that he has got an ACL (injury), which is a really bad thing for us because he has been such an important player for us.”

He continued: “Certainly for us he will be a miss, but having said that Maxi Pereyra went in yesterday and I thought he did very well when he went on.

"But for sure Gerry is going to be a miss for us. But we'll have to cope. It's important we look forward with a positive mentality but it's certainly not good news for us for sure."