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.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hails Mohamed Salah as the best player in the world
Mohamed Salah hits wonder goal as five-star Liverpool demolish Watford
Watford vs Liverpool: Five things we learned as Mohamed Salah scores another wonder goal in dominant win
Mohamed Salah only focused on winning at Liverpool amid contract speculation
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
42 mins: Great defending from Sarr! It’s the first real time that Toney and Mbeumo combine as Toney flicks an aerial ball onto Mbeumo making his run through the lines. Sarr is the last defender and times his tackle perfectly to dispossess Mbeumo and knock the ball out for a throw in.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
39 mins: Chance! A long ball comes up to Lukaku who brings the ball down on the edge of the penalty area. He holds off the Brentford centre-backs to set Werner up with a chance from range but the German leans back on his shot and hits it over the crossbar!
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
36 mins: Chalobah threads a a teasing ball down the inside right channel as Werner makes a run into the box. He puts on the burners to get in front of the Brentford defenders but Raya is off his line quickly to scoop up the ball as it rolls into the box.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
34 mins: Brentford have held their own so far. Chelsea have seen more possession but they’ve not done much with it. Azpilicueta plays a simple pass to Werner but Brentford’s high line catches him offside.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
31 mins: Sergi Canos is shown a yellow card for giving referee Anthony Taylor a bit of lip over a decision to award Chelsea a free kick. He joins Kovacic in the book.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
28 mins: Close! Kovacic takes a free kick for Chelsea from around 30-yards out. He doesn’t strike it all that well but gets a nice deflection off the wall that takes the ball towards the far top corner. Raya is worried about it as he comes scurrying across his goal but there’s not enough dip on the ball and it goes over the crossbar.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
26 mins: Loftus-Cheek wins Chelsea another free kick with driving run down the inside left channel. Chilwell dinks the free kick into the penalty area but Brentford clear the ball up to Toney who holds it up well and draws a foul close to the halfway line.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
23 mins: Chance! Brentford’s corner is cleared but the ball comes back into the box. A headed takes the ball into the path of Norgaard who heads it down for Mbeumo. Mbeumo whacks his shot into the ground and it bounces up and rattles into the near post!
Chelsea then break with Werner flying down the left wing. He takes the ball into the box and sends it across to Lukaku who backheels it into the back of the net only to be judged offside!
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
20 mins: Brentford win a throw in on the right side. The ball comes up to Jorgensen who swings a good cross right into the middle of the box. Ivan Toney rise above everyone to win the header. He knocks it down and the ball bounces behind after a deflection from Chalobah.
Brentford 0 - 0 Chelsea
17 mins: Onyeka trips Kovacic just outside his own penalty area and leaves Chelsea with a free kick in a dangerous area. Kovacic and Lukaku stand over the dead ball. It’s Lukaku who takes it and he whips a left-footed shot around the ball but sends it wide of the near post. Not a bad effort.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments