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Sadio Mane, Didier Drogba's Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah, is the third African player who has scored 100 Premier League goals.
Roberto Firmino scored three goals as rampant Liverpool left Claudio Ranieri with a poor start to his career as Watford manager.
Liverpool's fluid attack play was unstoppable by the home team.
Sadio Mane became third African player to score 100 Premier League goals, before Roberto Firmino scored either side of the break. Mohamed Salah completed a remarkable individual goal with a clever shot that was beyond Ben Foster.
Salah's goal puts him on par with Didier Drogba, former Chelsea striker, as the highest scoring African player in Premier League history. He has scored 104 goals.
Firmino scored his first hat trick since December 2018 in the final minutes.
This result means that Liverpool has scored three or more goals in six of their away games this season in all competitions, something no other English top flight side has achieved. They also extended their unbeaten season and moved back at the top of the table before Chelsea's visit (17:30 BST).
They could have had more, but bad luck and -from Salah - terrible mis-control led to further opportunities being lost.
Watford failed to score a corner until the 78th minutes. Ranieri's day was summarized by the fact that it was met with cheers and standing ovations.
Ranieri's task was bare
Ranieri suggests that Watford players might have been nervous.
Ranieri's 22nd job is Watford. Rarely has he had to endure a start so difficult as this.
This was Watford’s worst Premier League loss since September 2019, when they were hammered by Manchester City eight times. It also marked their largest home defeat since six goals were scored by the same opposition two years ago. It was certain that there wasn't much to celebrate before his 70th Birthday on Thursday.
Vicarage Road's dimensions mean that the edge of the technical areas of managers is about as close to the pitch as possible.
Ranieri was so close to the action that he was almost in the lead when the task was revealed.
The Italian enjoyed a long chat pre-match with Jurgen Klopp, his Liverpool counterpart.
They were simply not able to compete with their skilled opponents. Danny Rose gave Salah far too much space, even before he scored the opener. Firmino was free to move freely between Watford's midfield and defence, and Liverpool whipped the ball around at will further back with no pressure.
Ranieri's new team had a miserable first half with only 17% possession, zero shots, and no corners. Ranieri hoped that Tom Cleverley's introduction into the midfield would improve things, but he was wrong. Liverpool scored twice in the first 10 minutes.
Watford rallied towards the end with Ismaila Sharr hitting a post. However, any chance of making the game into a contest was gone by that point.
Ranieri found consolation in the fact that there shouldn't be any dissenters during his first week of work with his new team.
Ranieri must have a plan in place if Watford's trigger-happy owners, which includes Chelsea, Arsenal, Chelsea, and both Manchester clubs, aren't considering a sacking yet another manager.
Rampant Reds
Watford 0-5 Liverpool - Salah is the best player in the world. - Klopp
This was Liverpool's largest win since December's 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace. It was also the last time Firmino and Salah had scored in a top flight game.
Senegalese Mane, who joined Egypt's Salah as a goalcoring centurions and Ivorian Didier Drrogba in Ivorian Didier Darogba as African centurions, is part of an exclusive Premier League club.
Salah's curling pass using the outside of his left leg was inviting. Mane displayed great composure and met the ball with impeccable timing to give Foster no chance.
Firmino's three goals were very welcome, but they were all quite simple. Two tap-ins were made by James Milner's cross to the six yard area. The ball ran free from Ben Foster's desperate save after Craig Cathcart had turned it towards his goal.
After Neco Williams had crossed, there was more to the Brazilian's threerd. He ran forward with intelligence and no defender could stop him.
Salah's goal was undoubtedly the main objective of the game.
Salah was surrounded by three other players at the Watford box's edge. He used a combination speed, dexterity, and brilliant close control to get rid of them all, before finding his target with his unerring accuracy.
He has now scored in eight consecutive matches in all competitions, and in nine of the 10 total. This is why Liverpool are keen to extend his current contract, which has less that two years remaining.
Watford will next be taking on Everton at Goodison Park, Saturday 23 October (15:00 BST). Liverpool will be at Atletico Madrid in Champions League on Tuesday (20:00). Their next Premier League match is against Manchester United on Sunday 24 October (16:30).
Roberto Firmino Roberto Firmino Player of the Match with an average of 9.0 Watford Watford Watford
Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool Watford AVg Squad Number 1 Player Foster Average Rating 4.85 Squad Number 19 Player player name Sissoko Player rating Average 4.59 Squad Number 33 Player player name Cucho Hernndez Player rating 4.09 Squad No. 11 Player named Troost-Ekong Player rating 3.85 Squad no. 3 Player number Rose Average rating. 3.02 Squad numbers 9 Player names Roberto Firmino and Alexander-Arnold Player rating 8.26 Squad # 32 Player number Matip Average rating. 8.09 Squad rating 7 Player number 16 Squad of 76 Member name Tsimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasimikasia rating is 7.61 Squadnum 15 Player Oxlade-Chamberlain average rating.
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text Line-ups Watford Formation 5-4-1 1 Foster 21 Femena 15 Cathcart 5 Troost-Ekong 3 Rose 11 Masina 25 Dennis 33 Kucka 19 Sissoko 29 Hernndez Surez 23 Sarr 1 Foster
21 Femena Substituted For Ngakia at 56' Minutes
15 Cathcart
5 Troost-Ekong
3 Roses
Cleverley Substituted by 11 Masina at 45' Minutes
25 Dennis substituted for Joo Pedro in 69' minutes
33 Kucka
19 Sissoko
29 Hernndez Surez
23 Sarr Substitutes for 2 Ngakia
6 Louza
8 Cleverley
10 Joo Pedro
12 Sema
16 Gosling
17 Fletcher
18 Tufan
26 Bachmann Liverpool Formation 4-3-3 62 Kelleher 66 Alexander-Arnold 32 Matip 4 van Dijk 26 Robertson 7 Milner 14 Henderson 8 Keta 11 Salah 9 Firmino 10 Man 62 Kelleher
66 Alexander-Arnold Substituted for Oxlade-Chamberlain at 65' minutes
32 Matip
4 van Dijk
26 Robertson Substituted at 64' Minutes for Tsimikas
7 Milner Substituted For N Williams at 83' Minutes
14 Henderson
8 Keta
11 Salah
9 Firmino
10 Man Substitutes 5 Konat
12 Gomez
13 Adrin
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
18 Minamino
20 Jota
21 Tsimikas
27 Origi
Referee for 76 N Williams: Jonathan Moss. Attendance: 21,085. Match Stats Live text Post update. Match ends, Watford 0. Watford 0, Liverpool 5 Goals. Goal! Watford 0, Liverpool 5. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), right footed shot from six yards to the centre. Neco Williams assisted. Post update Offside Watford. Joo Pedro attempts a through ball but Ismaila Sharr is unable to catch him offside. Post update Sadio Man from Liverpool wins a free kick at the defensive half. Foul by Jeremy Ngakia, Watford. Post update Attempt missed. Ismaila Sarr, (Watford), header from the middle of the box misses to left. Assisted by Jeremy Ngakia using a cross. Post update Offside, Watford. Joo Pedro attempts a through ball but Juraj Kucka is unable to catch him offside. Update: Attempt blocked. Cucho Hernndez, Watford, right footed shot from left side box is blocked Moussa Sisoko assisted. Post update Offside Watford. Joo Pedro is caught offside after Ismaila Sarr attempts a through ball. Post-update: Attempt saved. Ismaila Sarr, (Watford), right footed shot from centre box. Saved in bottom left corner Joo Pedro assisted. Substitution Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner is replaced by Neco Williams. Post update Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas, Liverpool Post update Juraj Kraka (Watford), wins a free kick at the defensive end. Update: Offside, Watford. Joo Pedro is caught offside after Jeremy Ngakia tries a through-ball. Post update: Attempt saved. Sadio Man (Liverpool), header from the middle of the box is saved in top centre of goal. James Milner assisted with a cross. Post update Attempt missed. Ismaila Sarr (Watford), right footed shot from centre of box. The corner resulted in a high, wide shot to the left. Corner post update, Watford. James Milner conceded. Post update Foul by Naby Ketcha (Liverpool). Post update Cucho Hernandez (Watford), wins a free kick from the left wing. Page 1 of 5 Rewind Previous Navigate to Next Navigate To The Last Page Forward
