Liverpool 5-0 Watford: Reds have fun in the snow – Salah with an assist and FOUR goals

Premier League
Saturday 17 March 2018 - 5:30 pm
Anfield
Liverpool5
0Watford
Show Match Events
⚽️ Salah4'
Can off, Milner on ↔️27'
⚽️ Salah43'
⚽️ Firmino49'
Gomez52'
65'↔️ Richarlison off, Hughes on
Wijnaldum off, Oxlade-Chamberlain on ↔️70'
70'↔️ Deeney off, Okaka on
⚽️ Salah77'
Firmino off, Ings on ↔️79'
81'↔️ Britos off, Janmaat on
⚽️ Salah85'
Possession %
5743
Total Shots
134
Shots on Target
101
Shots Blocked
21
Offside
63
Hide Match Events

Liverpool put Watford to the sword, gained 3 important Premier League points, and moved ahead of Tottenham Hotspur (who were playing in the FA Cup today).

The reds boss made 4 changes from last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dejan Lovren taken out of defence (Lovren apparently due to an injury).

In midfield, Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson returned to the line up - Henderson making his 200th league appearance at Liverpool.

With unusually cold weather for mid-March, the fans and players had to deal with swirling snow at Anfield, but it was Liverpool who made the most of the conditions - with Mo Salah, twisting and turning, and sending defenders slipping over as he scored the opening goal in the 4th minute.

It took Salah ahead of Harry Kane in the goalscoring charts for this seasons League campaign.

Sadio Mane was busy, getting himself into central positions and combining well with the Egyptian.

At the other end Loris Karius cut a lonely figure - actually he was a lonely freezing figure as he tried to hide his face inside his shirt with the ball mostly at the other end of the pitch.

He had little to do in the first half although Watford did have a couple of minutes of pressure when Henderson, and then Wijnaldum were guilty of sloppy passes conceding possession.

Emre Can was a casualty mid-way through the first half - he headed down the tunnel to be replaced by James Milner after clutching his ankle.  The fact he walked off is hopefully an encouraging sign.

As it happened: LFC 5-0 Watford

But as half time approached the reds crucially doubled the advantage.

Sadio Mane sent through a fine ball to split the defence and Andy Robertson crossed it first time to the edge of the 6 yard box.  It provided a simple tap in for that man Mo Salah.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Liverpool had made it completely comfortable.

Salah with more trickery down the right wing and from the edge of the area he crossed it to Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian leapt in the air and, mid-air, backheeled it into the net.  A 23rd goal in all competitions for Firmino (a record for him) and his 14th league goal - equaling the record of any Brazilian in the Premier League - a record he is sure to expand upon on in the final 7 games.

The game was over as a spectacle, and further substitutions and snow showers, took the sting out of the game.

But if you thought the goals were over - there were more to come.

A deserved hat-trick goal for Mo Salah with 10 minutes remaining - he twisted and turned inside the area sending 3 Watford defenders the wrong way before poking the ball into the far corner of the Kop goal.  A fine finish and it summed up his campaign - one of trickery and delight.

Danny Ings came on to replace Firmino and saw a great chance beaten away by the keeper.

And with only a few minutes left Ings had another attempt at the elusive goal but beaten away again by the keeper - this time straight into the path of, yep, Mo Salah.

Smashed back into the net - goal number 4 for Mo Salah - a 28th Premier League strike, a 36th in all competitions and Liverpool's fifth of the day!

The dreaded international break is ahead of us.  Liverpool will need to avoid any serious injury as they face an important end period which could, possibly, still end in success.

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Liverpool 5-0 Watford: Reds have fun in the snow – Salah with an assist and FOUR goals

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