EPL: Liverpool 5-0 Watford

Salah celebrates scoring his second goal of the game with Firmino

Mohamed Salah continued his superb season by scoring four times as Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday.

Salah struck twice in the first half and then twice again late in the game to secure his first Liverpool hat-trick and take his tally to 36 for the season in all competitions.

That is the best haul in a debut season by a Liverpool player while he also chipped in with an assist shortly after half-time when he set up Roberto Firmino for a flicked finish.

 

Watford offered little in response as their poor away form under Javi Gracia continued.

The Hornets are yet to even score on the road since Gracia took over in January, and they were given a masterclass in finishing from Salah as Liverpool bounced back from their defeat at Manchester United in style.

 

In snowy conditions, the Reds enjoyed the perfect start as Salah, who is now four clear in the Premier League golden boot race with 28 goals, sat down Miguel Britos in the box and then fired a low shot past Orestis Karnezis in the fourth minute.

 

Watford defended deep in the opening half an hour and were only eventually given impetus by a few slack passes from Liverpool, who had otherwise looked comfortable.

However, after Richarlison headed at Loris Karius, the Reds doubled their lead as Andy Robertson's perfectly-placed cross was finished by Salah from 10 yards out in the 43rd minute.

 

Salah then set up Firmino to cleverly flick in for 3-0 after half-time.

Roberto Pereyra hit the bar for Watford from a free-kick shortly afterwards, but that was a rare positive moment for the visitors, who crumbled late on.

Salah twisted and turned in the box in the 77th minute before finishing for his hat-trick and then fired in a fourth in the 85th minute after Danny Ings' shot was spilled by Karnezis.