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
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.
Watford 0 - 2 Liverpool
40 mins: Sarr hasn’t had a lot to do in Liverpool’s half of the pitch but wins a free kick after spinning away from Henderson. The free kick comes into the Liverpool penalty area but the Reds defend it well.
GOAL! Watford 0 - 2 Liverpool (Firmino, 37’)⚽️
37 mins: Liverpool have two! The Reds have been pushing and pushing for a second goal and they get one just before half-time. It’s another beautifully worked goal as Milner brings the ball under control in midfield. He sends it up to Mane and makes an overlapping run into the box. Mane slips the ball back to Milner who squares it from the byline and leaves Firmino with an easy tap-in from inside the six-yard box.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
36 mins: Not only is Sissoko commanding the midfield for Watford but he’s also covering Rose who’s repeatedly being beaten by Salah. Salah weaves around the left-back again and attempts a cross but Sissoko is there to block it.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
33 mins: Sissoko’s got a lot of work to do in the middle of the pitch for Watford and he’s having a decent game so far. He wins the ball off Henderson and sends it up to Hernandez to start Watford going on the counter-attack. Sarr mistimes his run and strays offside as Hernandez drives forward with the ball meaning Hernandez has to hold it up and is tackled by Matip.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
30 mins: The corner comes into the box from the left side but Adam Masina is up highest to win the ball in the air. He heads it out of the box and Dennis completes the clearance with a big hoof down the pitch.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
27 mins: Solid work from Troost-Ekong who marshals Salah out of the box after Alexander-Arnold chipped another lovely ball up to the forward.
Liverpool regain possession around the edge of the box and switch the play over to the left side where Keita wins a corner.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
24 mins: Alexander-Arnold passes the ball up to Firmino who attempts to flick it into the box for Salah but gets it wrong and is tackled. Watford seem to have closed ranks at the back. They’re closing down quicker and are showing fewer gaps in their backline.
Sarr is given the ball on the inside right by Mane and he runs it in field. Hernandez makes a run off the ball into the box as the ball is played up to him but Alexander-Arnold sprints back and blocks the shot with a sliding tackle.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
21 mins: A rare forward run from Watford sees Cucho Hernandez drive the ball down the left wing. He’s got Ismaila Sarr for company and attempts the play him into the box only for Virgil Van Dijk to get to the ball first and work it clear for the Reds.
At the other end of the pitch Alexander-Arnold knocks the ball over the Watford back line and plays Salah into the box. He’s being played onside by Kiko Femenia but his first touch is poor and the ball rolls away from him. Foster flies off his line and gets to the loose ball first booting it back down the pitch to stop Liverpool’s attack.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
18 mins: For all his struggles against Salah, Danny Rose is giving it a good go out there. Naby Keita slips another decent through ball into the box with this pass coming to Roberto Firmino. He runs with the ball and looks to shoot but Rose gets across him and wins the ball.
Watford 0 - 1 Liverpool
15 mins: Chance! Mane makes a run into the left side of the box as Milner sweeps into the middle. Mane squares the ball and Milner manages to poke it through to Salah. He takes a shot with his first touch but it’s blocked by Rose and loops away from the Liverpool forward. Good defending.
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