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Watford vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

The Reds face the Hornets in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge to open this weekend’s Premier League action

Michael Jones
Saturday 16 October 2021 16:22 BST
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(Getty)

With a deft touch, a roll of the ball with his studs, a dummy and then a sublime finish into the bottom corner, Mohamed Salah produced another goal-of-the-season contender to headline Liverpool’s 5-0 win at Watford in the Premier League on Saturday.

On a tough day for Claudio Ranieri in his first match as Watford manager, Salah delivered almost a replica of his stunning individual goal against Manchester City before the international break to show just why many are calling him the world’s best player on current form.

It also overshadowed a hat trick scored by Roberto Firmino.Salah’s 54th-minute solo goal started just inside the area where he was surrounded by three Watford players. Salah somehow managed to extricate himself out of the situation with marvellous footwork - including the foot-roll that was a feature of the goal against City - before cutting back onto his left foot and curling into the far corner.

The Egypt winger was mobbed by his teammates after his seventh league goal of the season. He has now scored in his last eight games for Liverpool in all competitions.Liverpool was already well clear by then after an eighth-minute opener by Sadio Mane — off Salah’s exquisite pass from off the outside of his left boot — and tap-ins either side of halftime by Firmino. The Brazil striker completed his hat trick with virtually the last kick of the game.

Mane become the 31st player to score 100 Premier League goals, and the third from Africa after Didier Drogba and Salah.Liverpool started the eighth round of games in second place, a point behind Chelsea.The 69-year-old Ranieri, who was hired last week as the replacement for Xisco Munoz, will be judged on games against weaker opponents than Liverpool but this was as one-sided a game as it.

Leicester 0 - 1 Man Utd

27 mins: Close! Very close from Leicester! Vardy drives into the box again from the left and takes on Lindelof. He doesn’t find enough space to shoot so knocks it back to Maddison. Maddison flicks a pass over to Ricardo on the right side. He meets the ball on the volley and fires it back across goal. Vardy can’t get to the ball as the effort beats De Gea and goes inches wide of the back post!

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:30

Leicester 0 - 1 Man Utd

24 mins: Cristiano Ronaldo wins a corner as he sneaks in behind the back line and knocks the ball out off Jonny Evans. The ball is swung in by Fernandes and comes towards Maguire. The ball goes over his head and is cleared by Caglar Soyuncu.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:26

Leicester 0 - 1 Man Utd

22 mins: Sancho and Fernandes combine on the left side of United but can’t find a way into the box. The ball is passed to Shaw whose cross is blocked by Daniel Amartey. Leicester break with Vardy driving up the pitch, he checks to his right as he gets to the box but his shot is blocked by a back-tracking Nemanja Matic.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:24

GOAL! Leicester 0 - 1 Man Utd (Greenwood, 19’)⚽️

19 mins: Man Utd lead! What a goal! Mason Greenwood is given the ball out on the right wing. He knocks it to Fernandes who slots it back to him. Greenwood comes inside leaving Timothy Castagne in his wake before unleashing a devastating strike at goal and finding the top left corner. What a strike!

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:21

Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd

15 mins: Pogba threads the ball up to Fernandes who lays it off to Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He floats a cross to the back post where Ricardo knocks the ball behind for a corner.

The corner ball is whipped in towards Pogba who wins the ball but knocks it over the crossbar.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:18

GOAL! Manchester City 1 - 0 Burnley (Bernardo Silva, 12’)⚽️

12 mins: Elsewhere in the Premier League Manchester City have taken the lead against Burnley. Bernardo Silva links up with Joao Cancelo on the left side. The ball is cut back to Phil Foden who’s shot is saved by Nick Pope but he fumbles the ball. It comes loose and Bernardo is there to tap it home.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:16

Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd

12 mins: Chance! Another good move from Leicester sees Maddison sprint down the left wing and take the ball to the byline. He shifts inside and leaves Victor Lindelof before hitting one straight at David De Dea who makes an easy save.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:13

Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd

9 mins: Chance! Leicester have certainly started quicker than Manchester United. Tielemans pushes up the pitch and receives the ball. He floats a cross towards the back post where Vardy wins the header but can’t find a teammate as he knocks it back into the middle.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:11

Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd

6 mins: Chance! Iheanacho takes the ball off Pogba and knock it past Maguire before sprinting into the inside right channel. Jamie Vardy makes a run into the box but Iheanacho sends it over to James Maddison on the left side of the penalty area. Maddison lays the ball to Tielemans bombing forward on the overlap and his pass into the six-yard area is cleared by Maguire.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:08

Leicester 0 - 0 Man Utd

3 mins: Paul Pogba is closed down in the middle of the pitch by Youri Tielemans who drives up the pitch and is fouled by Nemanja Matic. The Leicester free kick comes into the rigth side of Man Utd’s box where Harry Maguire heads it away and is met with a round of boos from the Leicester fans.

Michael Jones16 October 2021 15:05

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