Watford 0-5 Liverpool LIVE! Salah goal - Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today
Mohamed Salah set up Sadio Mane’s 100th Premier League goal and scored a brilliant goal of his own, while Roberto Firmino bagged a hat-trick as Liverpool reclaimed top spot with a 5-0 win over Watford in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge.
Firmino may have walked away with the match ball, but it was Salah that took the breath away in an individual attacking display full of the kind of vision, skill and guile that the watching Watford fans could only dream of from their side.
The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when Liverpool won a Watford kickout, and Mohamed Salah played a sublime pass to Mane with the outside of his left boot for the Senegalese striker to notch his Premier League century.
Mane then picked out James Milner on an overlapping run and he drove a perfect ball across the goal for Firmino to steer home from close range in the 37th minute to put the Reds 2-0 up at halftime.
Watford defender Craig Cathcart endured a torrid afternoon, sliding to send a back-pass to Ben Foster that the goalkeeper spilled into the path of Firmino, who finished with a simple tap-in to make it 3-0. But the worst was still to come for him as Salah took possession in the box two minutes later.
Trapped in a triangle of Watford defenders, the Egyptian rolled his studs over the ball before bursting past Cathcart and then leaving him sliding in the wrong direction as he cut back and curled the ball home with his left foot for an exquisite solo goal.
Firmino completed his hat-trick in stoppage time.
Read More
Watford 0-5 Liverpool: Salah scores wondergoal as Reds run riot
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Ranieri ready for Watford challenge even if he needs ‘a walking stick’
Key Points
Klopp: Salah is the best player in the world
Salah: I’m feeling confident at the moment
Watch Salah’s wonder goal
14:40 , Giuseppe Muro
5 - Claudio Ranieri suffered his biggest ever Premier League defeat, while no manager whose first game with a club in the competition came at home has suffered a bigger margin of defeat (also Alan Smith with Crystal Palace v Liverpool in August 1994, 1-6). Frosty. pic.twitter.com/0MnPVBcT6q
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 16, 2021
Klopp: Salah is the best player in the world
14:38 , Giuseppe Muro
Asked where Salah ranks among the world’s best players, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport: “Top. We all see it at the moment. Who is better than him?
“There is always big discussion about these kinds of things. We do not have to talk about what Ronaldo and Messi did for world football or how long they were dominant, but at the moment it is clear there is nobody better than him.”
Mohamed Salah reaction
14:28 , Giuseppe Muro
Speaking to BT Sport: “Have a scored a better goal? Last game maybe!
“I don’t know which one was better, this one or the City one. I’m feeling confident at the moment.
“I always try to play for the team, that’s the most important thing."
Full-time
14:19 , Giuseppe Muro
Watford 0-5 Liverpool.
A five-star display from Liverpool and a nightmare start for Claudio Ranieri.
GOAL! Watford 0-5 Liverpool | Roberto Firmino 90’
14:18 , Giuseppe Muro
A hat-trick for Firmino in stoppage time!
14:11 , Giuseppe Muro
84 mins: Watford hit the post! Close to a sonsolation for the Hornets.
14:06 , Giuseppe Muro
75 mins: A few signs of life from Watford but it’s too little, too late.
13:58 , Giuseppe Muro
70 mins: Mane should make it five!
Watford have given up. They give the ball away cheaply and Mane should score.
13:57 , Giuseppe Muro
65 mins: It’s still wave after wave of Liverpool attack. Watford have been absolutely woeful today.
Watch Salah’s goal
13:49 , Giuseppe Muro
Is he the best player in the world at the moment?
STOP THAT, MO SALAH! 🇪🇬👑
The footwork is magical, the finish is sublime.
He had the Watford defence on strings! 😱 pic.twitter.com/tBWPWWOxeX— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 16, 2021
GOAL! Watford 0-4 Liverpool | Mohamed Salah 54’
13:43 , Giuseppe Muro
What more is there to say about Mohamed Salah?
This is pure genius and one of the goals for the season.
Salah dances past three defenders, cuts inside and leaves Cathcart on his backside and then curls it into the far corner from a tight angle.
Wow.
GOAL! Watford 0-3 Liverpool | Roberto Firmino 52’
13:41 , Giuseppe Muro
This is turning into a nightmare start for Ranieri.
Robertson curls it into the middle towards Salah, a sliding touch from Cathcart forces Foster into a save but he can only parry it into the path of Firmino who taps in his second.
13:36 , Giuseppe Muro
49 mins: Salah goes close! A curling effort forces Foster into a good save.
Liverpool know a third goal would kill the game. Salah has been brilliant again today. Watford can’t handle him.
13:35 , Giuseppe Muro
47 mins: An early chance for Liverpool!
Straight away, Alexander-Arnold finds himself in loads of space and drags a shot wide from outside the box. More worrying signs from Watford.
13:32 , Giuseppe Muro
46 mins: We’re back underway.
A change for Watford at the break as Cleverly comes on for Massina. It looks like Watford will go 4-3-3
13:31 , Giuseppe Muro
35y 285d - James Milner is the oldest player to assist a goal for Liverpool in the Premier League since Gary McAllister in October 2001 (36y 299d v Leicester). Timeless. pic.twitter.com/O8ikmoBQfr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 16, 2021
13:30 , Giuseppe Muro
Ranieri has not been able to get his message across so far...
13:25 , Giuseppe Muro
Credit Liverpool because they have been good, but Watford have been woeful.
Liverpool haven’t needed to get out of second gear. Alexander-Arnold and Salah are running riot down the right. This could be anything if Watford do not improve in the second half.
Half-time: Watford 0-2 Liverpool
13:17 , Giuseppe Muro
Not a good day for Ranieri so far. Liverpool are in complete control thanks to goals from Mane and Firmino.
13:15 , Giuseppe Muro
41 mins: Keita hits the crossbar! Almost a third for Liverpool.
Keita shots from range, it takes a deflection and clips the cross bar.
Watch Firmino double Liverpool’s lead
13:13 , Giuseppe Muro
Another excellently crafted Liverpool move! 🤩
Bobby Firmino adds the finishing touches as the Reds tighten their grip on the game 👊 pic.twitter.com/d21hbRLg1G— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 16, 2021
GOAL! Watford 0-2 Liverpool | Roberto Firmino 37’
13:08 , Giuseppe Muro
Liverpool deservedly double their lead and it’s a long way back for Watford from here.
Masina gives the ball away in midfield and Liverpool counter. Mane feeds Milner down the left, he rolls the ball across the box for Firmino to tap into an empty net.
13:04 , Giuseppe Muro
32 mins: Rose has had a difficult first half up against Salah. Sissoko has played a key role in helping cover his team-mate, but Salah has still enjoyed plenty of success down the right.
13:03 , Giuseppe Muro
30 mins: For all their dominance in this first half, only one goal separates the two side after 30 minutes.
Watford cannot continue like this, surely? Liverpool need to make this superiority count.
12:58 , Giuseppe Muro
25 mins: Chance for Watford! Finally the home side show a little bit.
Mane loses possession as he tries a backheel in midfield, Sarr slips a ball through to Cucho and Alexander-Arnold makes a brilliant challenge just as he is about to pull the trigger.
The flag then goes up, but Alexander-Arnold was not to know he was offside. Dangerous signs for Liverpool despite their dominance.
12:56 , Giuseppe Muro
100 - Sadio Mané has become the third African player to reach 100 goals in the Premier League, after Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah. Centurions. pic.twitter.com/zTUyS00Gw0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 16, 2021
12:54 , Giuseppe Muro
22 mins: Watford need to show a bit more fight here. They are not playing with any confidence and Ranieri needs to change something.
12:52 , Giuseppe Muro
20 mins: It’s one-way traffic. Liverpool are totally dominant.
Alexander-Arnold plays in a brilliant ball for Salah but his touch is heavy and allows Foster to race out block.
That could, and perhaps should, have been 2-0.
Watch Mane’s 100th Premier League goal
12:50 , Giuseppe Muro
This is what separates the two sides after 19 minutes...
That's an incredible goal to open the scoring! ⚡️⚡️
Mo Salah with the strength and perfect assist before Sadio Mane cooly slots the ball home... 🤤
Some move! pic.twitter.com/krafY3vGzA— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 16, 2021
12:47 , Giuseppe Muro
15 mins: It’s chance after chance for Liverpool. It’s too easy for them.
Only desperate defending blocks a shot from Salah from inside the area. This is not the start Ranieri would have wanted. It looks like being a long afternoon for Watford.
12:45 , Giuseppe Muro
12 mins: Salah is unplayable at the moment. Every time he gets the ball he looks dangerous. This time, he shifts the ball onto his left foot and curls it towards the far corner that Foster has to tip over.
GOAL! Watford 0-1 Liverpool | Sadio Mane 9’
12:40 , Giuseppe Muro
Mane puts Liverpool ahead with his 100th Premier League goal.
Liverpool have dominated the early stages of this game and that’s a brilliant goal.
Salah spins past Rose and plays in Mane, who hits a first-time effort into the bottom corner past Foster.
12:36 , Giuseppe Muro
6 mins: Liverpool have bossed the early stages of this one.
Watford somehow need to stop the supply line to Salah, who looks really threatening every time he gets the ball.
12:35 , Giuseppe Muro
3 mins: Watford have hardly had a kick so far. Salah is looking really threatening on the right. He beats Rose and Sissoko has to come across on the cover.
12:34 , Giuseppe Muro
2 mins: Liverpool have made a really bright start here. Van Dijk finds Salah, who cuts back inside on to his left foot and his shot deflects of Rose and loops onto the top of the net for a corner.
12:32 , Giuseppe Muro
1 min: Salah hits the bar!
But the flag was already up and it wouldn’t have counted. A let-off for Watford inside the opening 60 seconds.
12:30 , Giuseppe Muro
Kick-off!
We’re underway at Vicarage Road.
Claudio Ranieri is back. And so is the Premier League!
12:20 , Giuseppe Muro
Kick off is now just 10 minutes away...
12:14 , Giuseppe Muro
Moussa Sissoko captains Watford today
12:11 , Giuseppe Muro
Sadio Mane needs just one goal to become the third African player to reach 100 in the Premier League, after Didier Drogba and Mohamed Salah.
Salah himself has scored in each of his last seven appearances in all competitions for Liverpool – he’s never scored in eight consecutive matches in his career in the big five European leagues.
12:06 , Giuseppe Muro
A big day for this man...
11:56 , Giuseppe Muro
Alisson misses the game at Vicarage Road after playing for Brazil in the early hours of Friday morning so Kelleher makes his first Premier League appearance since February.
The Irish goalkeeper’s only other appearance this season was in the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Norwich in September.
11:48 , Giuseppe Muro
Claudio Ranieri speaking in his matchday programme notes: “There will be a different philosophy and it’s important the players can follow this quickly.
“For them, it’s simple, they have to understand only one man. For me, I want to understand them all individually – and I will.
“This way you can give the best conditions for everyone to improve and enjoy football. You have to train how you want to play, this is very clear.”
11:42 , Giuseppe Muro
Ready for action 😤#WATLIV pic.twitter.com/7eRPm6LCDm
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 16, 2021
11:41 , Giuseppe Muro
Claudio Ranieri makes three changes for Watford from their defeat at Leeds.
It looks a switch to a back five with Adam Masina and Craig Cathcart coming in. Cucho Hernandez also comes as part of what looks like a front three alongside Ismaila Sarr and Dennis.
11:39 , Giuseppe Muro
So Jurgen Klopp makes four changes from the 1-1 draw with Manchester City before the international break.
Two of those enforced with the absences of Alisson and Fabinho. Trent Alexander-Arnold is fit again to return at right-back so James Milner moves into midfield, while Naby Keita and Robert Firmino have been handed starts.
11:34 , Giuseppe Muro
As expected, Kelleher starts in goal for Liverpool!
Watford XI: Foster, Rose, Ekong, Cathcart, Masina, Femenia, Sissoko, Kucka, Sarr, Dennis, Hernandez
Subs: Bachmann, Ngkaia, Louza, Pedro, Sema, Cleverley, Gosling, Tufan, Fletcher
Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Milner, Henderson, Keita, Firmino, Mane, Salah
Subs: Adrian, Konate, Jota, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Williams, Origi
11:21 , Giuseppe Muro
Team news is coming up in under 10 minutes...
Head to head history and results
11:17 , Giuseppe Muro
Watford wins: 6
Draws: 4
Liverpool wins: 24
11:16 , Giuseppe Muro
Claudio Ranieri is in the building
Ranieri in the 🏠#WATLIV pic.twitter.com/ZG8qC5EJEp
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 16, 2021
11:15 , Giuseppe Muro
Calm before the storm…
11:11 , Giuseppe Muro
🌧 Lovely weather for football...
Two hours until #WATLIV ⏳ pic.twitter.com/acp7S93UBI— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) October 16, 2021
11:10 , Giuseppe Muro
Watford are without Francisco Sierralta (hamstring), Peter Etebo (muscle), Christian Kabasele (hamstring) and Joshua King (knee).
Early team news
11:00 , Giuseppe Muro
Liverpool will be without Brazil internationals Fabinho and Alisson after they played for their country in the early hours on Friday morning. It means Caoimhin Kelleher is set to start in goal.
With Fabinho missing and Thiago Alcantara a doubt as he continues to recover from a calf injury, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is pushing for a start in midfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is available again and is likely to come back into the team at right-back. Jota is also available to lead the line.
How to watch
10:51 , Giuseppe Muro
TV channel: Today’s match will be televised on BT Sport 1.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or the Sky Go and BT Sport apps.
10:40 , Giuseppe Muro
Claudio Ranieri becomes the 14th permanent Watford manager of the Pozzo era today.
The Italian, who turns 70 next week, has taken over following the sacking of Xisco Munoz with the Hornets 15th in the table and four points clear of the bottom three.
But the visit of Liverpool, and upcoming clashes with Arsenal and Manchester United, means there will be little time for Ranieri to settle down into his third stint in the Premier League.
With leaders Chelsea not playing until later, Liverpool can go top of the Premier League.
10:30 , Giuseppe Muro
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Watford v Liverpool in the Premier League.
We’ll have all the team news and build-up ahead of a 12:30pm kick-off...