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.
Watford 0 - 5 Liverpool
Reaction from Mo Salah who scored for the eighth game in a row for Liverpool. He told BT Sport:
I think we didn’t want to start like the [Manchester] City game so talked in dressing room about starting the game well and that’s what we did.
“All the goals were very important but Bobby [Firmino] did a great job scoring a hat-trick so congratulations to him and Sadio [Mane] also scored a nice goal.
“I didn’t watch back it yet [his goal]. Last game [against Man City] maybe [was better]. I don’t know which one was better. I was in the box trying to find someone or score myself. It is all about the team. That is the most important thing.
“Sometimes I don’t have the luck to score goals but I am always trying 100% to help the team. I am confident at the moment, helping the team win points which is the most important thing.”
Leicester vs Man Utd
Leicester have already beaten Manchester United in the league and FA Cup in 2021, both at Old Trafford. The Foxes can win three consecutive matches against them in all competitions for the first time in 120 years.
However, Man Utd have only lost one of their 15 Premier League away games in this fixture. That was a 5-3 defeat in September 2014. The Red Devils have scored in 24 successive league meetings between the teams since a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in January 1998.
Leicester vs Man Utd
Reaction from Liverpool’s victory over Watford at Vicarage Road to come but our focus moves over to the King Power Stadium where Leicester are about to take on Manchester United.
Here’s a reminder of the two teams:
Leicester XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Soyuncu, Evans, Amartey, Ricardo, Maddison, Soumare, Tielemans, Vardy, Iheanacho
Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Fernandes, Greenwood, Ronaldo, Sancho
Liverpool defeat Watford to move top of table
All hugs and smiles for Liverpool as they move back to the top of the Premier League.
Full-time: Watford 0 - 5 Liverpool
90+2 mins: Liverpool are back to the top of the Premier League. They’ve demolished Watford today. Roberto Firmino has a hat-trick with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah also on the scoresheet.
GOAL! Watford 0 - 5 Liverpool (Firmino, 90+1’)⚽️
90+1 mins: Hat-trick for Firmino! Danny Rose has had a shocker today. Neco Williams shimmies his way past the left-back and flicks a pass towards the back post. Firmino arrives at the right time and puts his third tap-in of the day into the back of the net.
Watford 0 - 4 Liverpool
87 mins: Watford have stepped up their play just as Liverpool have relaxed their own. Virgil van Dijk and Naby Keita are both called into action to block crosses into the box from Hernandez and substitute Jeremy Ngakia.
Watford 0 - 4 Liverpool
84 mins: Off the post! Joao Pedro wins the ball deep in Liverpool’s half and runs it to the byline. He cuts it back into the box for Sarr who side-foots an effort at goal. Kelleher leaps to his right, gets the slightest touch on the shot but manages to push the ball onto the near post where it bounces away! Good effort, great save!
Watford 0 - 4 Liverpool
81 mins: Chance! Salah dribbles his way down the right wing before knocking the ball back to Milner, who’s taken Alexander-Arnold’s place at right-back. Milner chips a cross into the box and finds Mane who sends a floaty header straight at Foster in goal.
Watford 0 - 4 Liverpool
78 mins: A Liverpool break sees Salah taking on Rose again on the Liverpool right. He darts into the box and looks to play in Mane but his pass is intercepted and Watford clear the danger.
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