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

(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.

Watford vs Liverpool

• GOAL! Watford 0-1 Liverpool - Mane breaks the deadlock after a sublime Salah pass
• GOAL! Watford 0-2 Liverpool - Firmino doubles the Reds’ lead, tapping in Milner’s square ball
• GOAL! Watford 0-3 Liverpool - Firmino grabs a brace to convert a rebound from Foster’s save
• GOAL! Watford 0-4 Liverpool - Salah hits wonder goal after mesmerising footwork inside box
• GOAL! Watford 0-5 Liverpool - Firmino stabs home from close range to complete hat-trick

[16 October 2021 16:01 · Michael Jones]

Elsewhere in the Premier League

There isn’t much to talk about from the rest of the 3pm kick offs. Manchester City are leading against Burnley but the rest of the games remain nil-nil.

Aston Villa 0 - 0 Wolves

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

Man City 1 - 0 Burnley

Norwich 0 - 0 Brighton

Southampton 0 - 0 Leeds

[16 October 2021 15:58 · Michael Jones]

Greenwood on target

Mason Greenwood continues to impress for Manchester United scoring again in that first half from outside the box.

[16 October 2021 15:55 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

Leicester have been the better team over the course of the first 45 minutes. They’ve created the best chances and have looked more cohesive in possession.

The main talking points though concern both goals. They were both fantastic.

Mason Greenwood sent Manchester United in front with a glorious striker from the inside right but his goal was bettered by Youri Tielemans’s perfectly weighted looping effort that dropped over David De Gea and finished in the back corner.

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

[16 October 2021 15:50 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

45+3 mins: Vardy comes close right on the edge of half-time. Maddison slides a free kick to Tielemans who chips it over to Jamie Vardy on the right side of the box. Vardy fails to control it properly and the ball bounces wide of the nearest post.

All square at the break.

[16 October 2021 15:48 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

45 mins: Fernandes flicks a cross into the box towards Ronaldo who attempts an overhead kick only to be beaten in the air by Ricardo. Three added minutes to play in the first half.

[16 October 2021 15:45 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

42 mins: Sancho is shoved off the ball just outside Leicester’s box and he’s not happy that the referee lets play go on. Matic recovers the ball with a good tackle on Iheanacho and gives it to Fernandes. He blasts one from range but the shot takes a big deflection and rolls safely to Schmeichel in goal.

[16 October 2021 15:42 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

39 mins: Chance! Leicester are turning up the heat. Tielemans drives the ball through midfield shaking away from Matic before sending the ball up to Iheanacho. A couple of touches from the striker set him up for a shot from the front of the box. He sell De Gea with his eyes but fires the shot wide of the far post!

[16 October 2021 15:39 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

36 mins: Matic catches Maddison on the side of the head and Maddison needs a check up. He’s fine to play on though. Leicester continue to press and Ricardo wins the ball off Shaw but he’s then tackled by Maguire who sends the ball up to Pogba in midfield. Pogba loses it and gives away a free kick during his attempt to recover the ball.

[16 October 2021 15:35 · Michael Jones]

Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd

33 mins: Man Utd break on the counter-attack with Fernandes bringing the ball up the right side of the pitch. He cuts inside and lays the ball off to Ronaldo who shoots but has his effort blocked by Jonny Evans.

[16 October 2021 15:32 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Leicester 1 - 1 Man Utd (Tielemans, 31’)⚽️

31 mins: Leicester are level! It’s another stunner too! A Manchester United free kick is knocked back to De Gea who passes it up to Maguire. Maguire is too slow on the ball and gets robbed by Iheanacho. Iheanacho passes it back to the edge of the box where Tielemans hits a first time shot at goal. He floats it up and over De Gea curling the ball into the inside of the far post where it bounces into the back of the net!