LIVERPOOL REMINDED us why they were champions two seasons ago as they put Watford to sword 5-0 in what was Claudio Ranieri’s first game as manager, reports the Voice of Sport from Vicarage Road. Red Mo Salah was instrumental in this easy win.
Critics wondered why Liverpool had not made any marquee signings this season. The answers were all before us as their strikers ran riot at Vicarage Road. In his press conference, Ranieri said his players will have to fight like a boxer. The truth is they failed to lay a glove on this devastating Liverpool side.
With just 8 minutes of the game gone, from a Ben Foster clearance Mo Salah pounced on the ball. He played a pass that took out the entire Watford back four and fell to Sadio Mane who calmly slotted it past Foster to give Liverpool the lead. That was Mane’s 100th league goal for Liverpool.
Three minutes later Foster had to dive to his right to make a save from Salah. Moments later he was again called into action to make another save from the Egyptian player who is in the form of his life at present.
Cucho Hernandez was played in by Ismaila Sarr but before he could shoot, Trent Alexander-Arnold blocked his effort and the ball was easily gathered by Caoimhin Kelleher.
In the 36th minute Liverpool effectively put the game to bed. James Milner squared the ball to Roberto Firmino who tapped the ball in from close range to double Liverpool’s lead. It felt like Foster was facing a firing squad as Naby Keita left fly from distance. The shot was deflected for a corner.
Liverpool continued their domination in the second half as Salah’s shot was pushed over the bar by Foster. Moments later a cross by Andrew Robertson was deflected by Craig Cathcart. In the process of trying to save an own goal, Foster could only parry the ball into the path of Firmino who slotted it home to give the Reds an unassailable lead.
Two minutes later it got worse of Watford. Mo Salah jinked in the area sitting four players down before picking his spot and slotting it past Foster to make it four. That Salah goal took him level with Didier Drogba as the highest scoring Africans in the Premier League.
In stoppage time Firmino completed his hat trick. Substitute Neco Williams fired in a shot which fell to Firmino for a tap-in.
Watford were comprehensively beaten. If Ranieri was not clear as to the task ahead of him here before today, he would after this game.
Delighted Liverpool boos Jurgen Klopp said: “Salah is in good shape. The three goals by Firmino were good but you cannot overlook Salah’s performance. If you look back the goal he scored against Watford at home was similar. You could see how team celebrated Salah’s goal when they realised it was something special.
“He is surely one of the best in the world now. For me he is the best. I see him every day. He has improved. You saw the pass for Mane’s goal. The consistency he delivers has always been there. People have just started seeing it. Mane is also a world class player as well. I am very happy for him.”
Ranieri said: “We know it was a difficult match. We were very nervous and after five minutes we conceded a goal. I saw some bad things about my team but I saw some good things in the last 20 minutes. I knew before coming I had to work very hard and I will work very hard.”
On Salah Ranieri said: “He is world class and everything he touches at the moment is gold.”
On how he takes what happens today into next week he added: “Now I have met my players. I watched them in training in the last 10 days. Now I know them very well. The defeats are always difficult but I am positive. I can see where we need to improve and next week we will start to improve.”
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