Liverpool smash FIVE past Watford in Claudio Ranieri's first match with Firmino, Mane and Salah all on target with the latter scoring a super solo goal
- Liverpool have moved top of the Premier League after hammering five past Watford on Saturday afternoon
- Mohamed Salah produced more magic with a sensational individual goal to continue his stunning form
- Roberto Firmino took advantage of a rare start, firing in a hat trick to help pummel the hapless Hornets
- It was a disastrous outing for Claudio Ranieri, who was overseeing his first game in charge of the club
When Mo Salah received the ball, three players blocked him from goal. There really was no way through. Juraj Kucka, Cucho Hernadez and Craig Cathcart are not inconsiderable obstacles to surmount.
There was touch, a drag back, and a swerve and he was away Like the Red Sea parting for Moses, space seemingly arrived from nowhere, players melted away as like a dancer, his Salah's feet seemingly mesmerised those around him with their speed of movement.
Initially it put you in mind of that famous photo of five Belgian defenders vainly trying to stop Diego Maradona. And if that seems outlandish, right now no one is better than Salah.
As Lionel Messi possibly begins his long goodbye from the game, it as though Salah has picked up the gauntlet for scoring inconceivable goals that make opponents look like children. Two weeks ago he put down a marker for goal of the season by dribbling past four players against Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah struck another sensational goal to help send Liverpool top of the Premier League at Watford on Saturday
The Egyptian star wriggled through the challenges of Cucho Hernandez, Craig Cathcart and Kucka in the penalty area
Salah darted to the right of the penalty box, before chopping onto his left foot to take Craig Cathcart out of the game
Liverpool's talisman then rifled the ball beyond the helpless Ben Foster into the far corner to score the visitors' fourth
James Milner and Roberto Firmino congratulate their talismanic team-mate after he scored yet another stunning goal
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Here he upped the ante, giving the judges another contender to consider.
As he swerved in and out of Watford defenders, ball seemingly attached to his foot, hips rotating as direction changed one way and then the other, he seemed to go around the unfortunate Cathcart at least twice.
In the end Cathcart simply ended up in a heap on the floor in his efforts to stop the intricate run of the Egyptian King, who swept the finish in with his left foot.
The roar from the travelling supporters exceeded what you would normally expect, doubtless enthralled by that sense that you in the presence of greatness. It is tempting to say you won't see anything much better this season until you reminn yourself Salah still had 30 games left to surpass this.
This was a game in which Roberto Firmino scored a classic poacher's hat-trick and still managed to be outshone.
'The three goals of Bobby are nice, 100 Premier League goals for Sadio, but you cannot overlook the performance of Mo today. It was outstanding. The goal was very special. Why should I compare it to the goal against Manchester City? I liked them both!
'The other one is slightly more dynamic. This one is not one for people with normal feet, like all of us! It's obviously possible for him though and you can see how the team celebrated the goal, that he did something extremely special.
'He is for sure one of the best in the world. For me, he is the best. I see him every day. Lewandowski out there, Ronaldo scoring like crazy, Messi, Mbappe. But in this moment for sure, he is on top of that.'
In some ways, it was a thoroughly-routine goal. The game was long gone. The strike made it 4-0, 54 minutes had passed and the only target for Watford at the stage was to avoid double figures, which they did. So there is at least one positive for Claudio Ranieiri in his first game in charge.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring for the title challengers after nine minutes after slotting home beyond Ben Foster
The Senegalese celebrates with his Egyptian team-mate whose wonderful pass helped him open the scoring on Saturday
Firmino bagged his first of three goals from yards out later in the half after tapping home from Milner's perfect square ball
It all feels a little like 2019. Crowds are back in stadia. A degree of normality has returned to life. And Liverpool look invincible.
It wasn't just that Salah shone. Trent Alexander Arnold was threading balls through into his path that were just exquisite; James Milner was delivering one of those age-defying performances; Mane, just being Mane, scoring goals; and Firmino, with a hat-trick of chances, the furthest out being around five yards.
And it wasn't just the Salah goal that made the performance. The pass with the outside of the foot to set up Mane's opener was a delight. From the moment he cracked his shot against the upright in the first minute, though it was belatedly ruled offside, it didn't look good for Watford.
Specifically it didn't for those left sided players detailed to stop Salah. Danny Rose started in a back three and had back up in Adam Masina as a wing back. But Masina proved a distinctly lightweight security detail.
Rose has shone for Watford thus far this season but out of position he was utterly ill-equipped for this challenge. Yet this was a systematic meltdown from Watford.
Their two central midfielders, Juraj Kucka and Moussa Sissoko, unsurprisingly couldn't get anywhere near Liverpool's trio of James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita given the lack of help they had from their front three and wing backs.
The English veteran celebrates after helping double his side's advantage during Saturday's lunchtime kick off
Firmino got his third of the game after the half time break as he once again tapped home with ease after Foster spilled the ball
The striker - who has had to be patient for his opportunities - grabbed his hat trick with the final kick of the game
Firmino tucks the ball under his shirt after clinching his hat trick to put Watford to bed on Saturday afternoon
Brazilian striker Firmino had a huge influence on Liverpool at Vicarage Road - graphics provided by SofaScore
The Ranieri plan was to hit Liverpool on the break with the speed of Ismaila Sarr. But Watford had two potential attacks in the first half and on both occasions, they ran offside. And you can't imagine Ranieiri went into the game expecting Liverpool to control 85% of the ball as they did in the first half.
Ranieri of course did his utmost to put a positive spin on it all. He insisted it wasn't embarrassing. 'I watched some bad things and some good things and I think at the beginning we were very, very nervous. From the next week we start to improve,' he insisted. He did concede that 'some of the goals were our presents.'
Such as the opener on nine minutes, direct from a Ben Foster goal kick which Alexander-Arnold easily headed back for Salah simply to nudge Rose aside and deliver that sublime pass to Mane, whose finish was clinical.
Though the second would take until the 37th minute, it was coming sure as a Ranieri bon mot. Milner was architect, releasing Mane with his probing pass and the powering past him to offer an overlap option and crossing for Firmino touch in.
It was a tough outing for veteran goalkeeper Foster, who was largely blameless for Liverpool's onslaught in Hertfordshire
Claudio Ranieri was unable to influence things from the sidelines in a disastrous first game in charge of Watford
Stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had a very quiet outing, coming in for Alisson Becker who was quarantining
It was all so bad, Ranieri had to change it at half time, with Massina hooked and Tom Cleverley offering midfield support as they reverted to 4-3-3. Much good it did them. They were 4-0 within nine minutes of the restart.
The third fell into that category of being technically right but morally wrong when allowed by VAR. Andy Robertson drilled the ball across goal, Cathcart slid in to prevent an offside Salah scoring.
The ball rebounded off keeper Foster and Firmino, not offside, converted the spilled ball yet the goal wouldn't happen without the defender intervening to stop an offside player scoring.
Watford might point to Hernandez shooting just wide on 73 minutes, Sarr striking a post on 84 minutes, though that was after substitutions had indicated game over. It was substitute Neco Williams, whose surging run and cross down the right, offered Firmino the tap in to complete his hat-trick with the last kick of the game. It was a fitting finale.
Re-live Sportsmail's live coverage of Watford 0-5 Liverpool, brought to you by OLLIE LEWIS.
Jon Moss puts Watford out of their misery and blows for full time as Liverpool go top of the Premier League with a sensational display at Vicarage Road.
For the Hornets, it is an absolutely disastrous start to life in Hertfordshire for Claudio Ranieri. His side looked bereft of ideas and energy in what is a sobering reality check for the newcomers.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway from this lunchtime kick off is this: Mo Salah is currently the best player in the world. What a goal, and what an incredible performance from the Egyptian king.
Liverpool have five, and Roberto Firmino has his hat trick! Neco Williams is found on the right hand side, he beats his man with some lovely skill and fires across goal for the Brazilian, who once again has the simple task of tapping into an empty net.
88 mins: Ngakia sends a wicked ball into the Liverpool box. Sarr doesn't make great contact with it but it falls to Hernandez at the back post, where a bit of pinball sees Van Dijk get a boot to it and clear.
86 mins: Watford come again through Sarr, who lifts the ball towards the backpost but Williams just gets a touch on the ball ahead of Hernandez. The forward comes again but Keita throws his body in front of the ball to block his effort.
84 mins: Chance Watford! Sarr rattles Kelleher's near post with a powerful strike! Replays show that the youngster got a fingertip on that, brilliant save from the stand-in keeper who has had very little to do today.
83 mins: Final change for Liverpool as Neco Williams replaces Milner.
81 mins: Mane rises highest to meet a Milner cross from the right flank, but his header lacks the power to test Foster.
Pedro is released over the top and tries to chip Kelleher but he overhits it before the flag goes up for offside.
79 mins: Watford offering more energy at 4-0 down than they have all game. Sarr looks to take on Milner but the veteran stands up to the youngster and prods the ball behind for a corner.
The set piece is only cleared as far as Sarr who blasts the ball over.
74 mins: Chance Watford! Sissoko bursts forward and breaks Liverpool's midfield line, he tees up Hernandes but his shot doesn't have quite enough curl on it to creep into the far post. That's the closest Watford have come to scoring today.
71 mins: Chance Liverpool! And what a miss from Mane. Rose makes a terrible error to lose possession of the ball. Firmino streaks down the right, bends a wonderful ball towards Mane on the backpost but he miscues his shot wide of goal. Really should have scored there.
70 mins: Ranieri makes his final change as Pedro replaces Denis.
69 mins: Milner lines up a shot on goal but it is blocked by Cathcart, who is still surely computing the fact he will be on highlight reels for years to come after that Salah goal.
Keita follows up and blazes his shot over the bar.
67 mins: Watford go close to getting a consolation after some pinball in the Liverpool penalty area, but the flag eventually goes up for offside.
64 mins: Double change for the visitors. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson are replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tsimikas respectively.
For Watford, Ngakia had replaced Kiko earlier.
63 mins: Alexander-Arnold almost makes it five! His shot hits Danny Rose and the deflection almost takes it beyond Foster and into the back of the net, but it just drifts wide. The Englishman's corner comes to nothing.
61 mins: Mane wants to get in on the act again as the ball sits up kindly for him on the edge of the box, but he balloons it over the crossbar.
57 mins: Ironic jeers from the Watford masses as Cleverley takes an audacious shot from range that does not trouble Kelleher - who has had literally nothing to do up until this point.
It's 4-0!! Watford fail to clear their lines and it falls to Mo Salah. He wriggles free of a couple of tame challenges, sends Cathcart to the shop for some milk and bends the ball into the far corner leaving Foster with no chance.
That one may well be better than his stunner against City, a goal of the season contender for sure - he is in the form of his life!
Liverpool have a third and that's surely game over! Robertson attempts to play Salah in behind, Cathcart looks to cut out the ball but he directs it straight at goal. Foster parries it right into the path of Roberto Firmino who sticks the ball into an empty net.
50 mins: Chance Liverpool! The visitors knock the ball from side to side until Salah picks up the ball, he is allowed to turn and face his man and attempts to find the top corner with his left foot but Foster is equal to it and tips behind.
Alexander-Arnold's resulting corner is aimed straight at the keeper.
47 mins: Salah has time to control and turn on the edge of the Watford box, he looks for Milner but his delicate, lofted ball is cleared.
46 mins: Liverpool attack straightaway and Alexander-Arnold advances forward, unleashing from range but he drags his shot wide.
The second half is up and running and Ranieri has made a change at the break, with Tom Cleverley replacing Masina after a torrid 45 minutes.
The visitors are 45 minutes away from going top of the Premier League.
Murmured boos as Jon Moss blows his whistle for half time. In terms of performance, that's as bad as it gets for Ranieri on his return to the Premier League.
Liverpool ought to be further in front at Vicarage Road, with Salah and Mane running riot in those opening 45 minutes. Plenty for the Italian to sort at the break.
45+1 min: Just the one minute has been added on to this first half at Vicarage Road as Matip receives treatment with what looks like an eye injury.
44 mins: Firmino blocks a Masina clearance and advances towards the penalty box, but he is rescued by a team-mate who prods the ball behind for a corner. Matip meets Alexander-Arnold's delivery but Watford clear.
43 mins: Liverpool waste the corner but come forward again through Mane, who looks for a one-two with Robertson but his initial pass is off target.
42 mins: Chance Liverpool! Keita is afforded so much space on the edge of the Watford box, he takes a touch and fires from range, his strike taking a deflection before hitting the bar and going behind for a corner.
40 mins: Sarr has been Watford's only bright spark this half and he does well to win a free kick in Liverpool's half after wriggling past Henderson.
Liverpool have doubled their lead and it's just what they deserve!
Milner starts the move, exchanges a one-two with Mane who releases him down the left. The veteran unselfishly squares the ball for Roberto Firmino who is tasked with tapping the ball into an empty net.
Very comfortable indeed for the visitors.
35 mins: Rose is back on his feet and fit to continue, as a neat backheel from Mane lets Robertson free on the left. His drilled cross is aimed at Salah but once again Sissoko is there to read the danger and clear.
34 mins: Denis tries to launch a counter attack for Watford but his pass fails to find Sarr. Salah comes at Rose again but Sissoko is across to help his former Spurs team-mate out.
Rose is now down injured, it's been a tough half for the former England international.
30 mins: Mane skips past his man with ease but his cutback for Keita just falls short of his man. The midfielder keeps hustling and wins his team a corner, which comes to nothing.
27 mins: Chance Watford! Mane loses possession in midfield and Sarr pounces, he advances forward and slots Cucho Hernandez in, but Alexander-Arnold is back superbly to take the sting out of his shot and Kelleher saves with ease.
24 mins: Watford with their first foray forwards through Ismaila Sarr, but the flag goes up against the attacker and Liverpool take control of possession again.
20 mins: Chance Liverpool! Salah is released into the Watford box by Alexander-Arnold but his first touch is not quite right and allows Foster to dart out to snuff out the danger. Uncharacteristic error from Salah there.
17 mins: Keita looks to slip Firmino in but Danny Rose gets a toe to the ball to deny the Brazilian an opportunity at goal.
16 mins: Chance Liverpool! Mane hooks the ball into the box, James Milner fails to meet it but Salah is there to strike but Watford get a body in front of the ball to protect Foster's goal.
12 mins: Chance Liverpool! Salah really fancies this. He picks up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, takes a touch and arrows it towards the top corner but Ben Foster does brilliantly to tip behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Liverpool lead! And it is all thanks to the brilliance of Mo Salah.
The Egyptian gets the better of Rose once again, rolling his man to earn himself the freedom of the right hand side. He gets his head up and with the outside of his left boot he curls a pass beyond Watford's defence for Sadio Mane.
The Senegalese makes no mistake in sweeping past Ben Foster. It had been coming.
8 mins: Firmino tries to link up with Andy Robertson, but the Brazilian's pass is too strong and runs behind for a goal kick.
5 mins: All Liverpool after five minutes, with Watford unable to escape their own half. They just need to dig in and see out this fast start.
4 mins: Salah gets the better of Rose again but Sissoko is across to knock the ball behind for a corner. Again, Alexander-Arnold's corner is cleared.
3 mins: Salah at it again. He is picked out by Van Dijk and gets a free run at Danny Rose. He cuts onto his left foot but the Englishman blocks Salah's shot and it goes behind for a corner.
Alexander-Arnold's corner is too high for Matip and Watford clear.
1 min: Chance Liverpool! Mo Salah crashes the ball into the crossbar but the linesman's flag is up for offside against Mane in the build up.
The players kneel in support of football's anti-racism message and Sadio Mane gets us under way at Vicarage Road.
All 22 players are out on the Vicarage Road turf and Claudio Ranieri has greeted Jurgen Klopp with a warm embrace - it is good to have the Italian back in the Premier League.
Kick off is now moments away!
Just ten minutes to go until kick off at Vicarage Road, can Liverpool keep up their unbeaten run this afternoon?
They won't be helped by a number of absences, including Brazilian duo Alisson and Fabinho.
Klopp has just engaged in a little verbal sparring match with old foe Des Kelly regarding BT Sport's decision to allocate this game to a 12.30 kick off, reminiscent of their joust last season at Brighton.
On if his Brazilian players were not playing due to covid protocols:
Jurgen Klopp: ‘No, because we play at 12.30pm there was no chance they would play. If we would have played tonight they would be here and we would give it a try but we play at 12.30pm and there was no chance.’
On being told Watford had turned down a request to get the game moved after Liverpool applied for KO time change
‘I think the broadcasters... whose idea was it to bring us here at 12.30pm, was it Watford's? If you would not have put us here we wouldn't have to apply to get it changed, right? Thank you very much for your help. Really, thank you very much.’
Live updates to come shortly!
Liverpool can leapfrog Chelsea into top spot with a win this afternoon, ahead of the Blues' fixture against Brentford.
Meanwhile, a first Watford win for Ranieri sees the Hornets open up a seven-point gap to Burnley, who occupy 18th position and the final relegation space.
Liverpool's Brazilian pair Alisson Becker and Fabinho are unavailable today as they are quarantining in Spain following their international commitments over the last fortnight.
It means that young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is brought back into the fold. The 22-year-old impressed when called upon last season, keeping five clean sheets in 11 outings for Klopp's side.
He will be hoping for more of the same at Vicarage Road today.
Jurgen Klopp joined the chorus of concern over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record following the recent takeover of Newcastle, questioning why English football ‘rightly’ rejected a European Super League only to give the green light to a new ‘super team’.
The Liverpool boss even joked that Newcastle’s new owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, would be able to to purchase the whole Premier League.
Click below to read more.
Three goals in 20 minutes shattered Liverpool's invincible dream 20 months ago, and more pertinently, provided their rivals the blueprint to get at their imperious defence.
Klopp will hope to banish that nightmare today, although Ranieri holds a good home record against the Reds.
Click below to read more.
Claudio Ranieri has named his first XI as Watford boss, making five changes from Xisco's final line up at Elland Road two weeks ago.
Meanwhile Diogo Jota has been replaced by Roberto Firmino up front, Caoimhin Kelleher comes in for Alisson Becker, Naby Keita replaces the injured Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold is back after being sidelined with an injury.
Hello and welcome to Sportsmail's live coverage of today's lunchtime Premier League kick off between Watford and Liverpool.
Vicarage Road has not been a happy hunting ground for the Reds, who were thumped 3-0 last time they visited Hertfordshire, with Ismaila Sarr and Troy Deeney running riot to shatter Jurgen Klopp's invincible dream.
Plenty has changed for the Hornets since then, with Claudio Ranieri taking over after the club sacked Xisco Munoz. Today will be the Italian's first game in charge.
Stay tuned as we build up towards the 12.30pm kick off, with team news to come in the next 10 minutes or so.
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