October 16, (THEWILL) – Liverpool thrashed a Watford side featuring Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis 5-0 in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge at Vicarage Road. The sensational Mohamed Salah scored one of the season’s best goals and Roberto Firmino a hat-trick to see Jurgen Klopp’s sideside go temporally to the summit of the standings.
Salah received the ball just inside the box, drew three defenders out, then drove towards the right by-line before turning around and clipping a ball past Foster inside the far post, leaving two players in his wake.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring with a cool first-time effort after Salah’s fine through-ball, and Firmino added two tap-ins either side of halftime to end the game as a contest. Milner drove deep into the penalty area before unselfishly squaring the ball, and Craig Cathcart’s despairing lunge at Andy Robertson’s low cross created the second.
After excellent work from substitute Neco Williams, the Brazilian added a third in stoppage time.
While Watford were powerless to stop Salah’s brilliance, their effort over the course of 90 minutes was woeful, and their new manager is well aware of the task ahead of him in keeping the club in the Premier League.
Even though Salah was excellent, it was not the Egyptian’s best performance. He could have scored a couple of goals from Trent Alexander-stylish Arnold’s through-balls if he had been a little sharper in the first half.
Even if he had not scored the season’s most likely goal, his pass for Mane’s first goal would have been a contender for best assist, with the outside of his boot curling around the Watford centre backs.
Moments before his coup de grace, he forced Ben Foster to tip his trademark curling effort from the right edge of the penalty area over the bar, foreshadowing what was to come. When he did hit the target, the Hornets goalkeeper had no chance, with an unerring finish that matched his dazzling skills that set up the opportunity.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
