Mohamed Salah continued his remarkable debut season at Liverpool with four goals as they hammered Watford 5-0 at Anfield in the Premier League this evening.
Only four minutes were on the clock when the Egyptian got his party started, and he scored his second just before the break from Andrew Robertson's inch-perfect cross.
Salah then turned provider for Roberto Firmino after the restart, before completing his first Reds hat-trick on 78 minutes with a prodded finish after a head-spinning run.
There was still time for the 25-year-old to bag a fourth, following-up on a Danny Ings shot that had been parried by Oscar Karnezis for his 28th league goal of the campaign.
Relive how Salah stole the show again on Merseyside with our minute-by-minute updates below.
The FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend, and it also gives Liverpool, knocked out by West Bromwich Albion in the early rounds, an opportunity to get a step ahead of their top-four rivals as they host Watford in the Premier League. Can the Reds bounce back from the defeat to Manchester United?
LIVERPOOL: Karius; Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum; Mane, Salah, Firmino
Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Klavan, Moreno, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Alexander-Arnold
Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Klavan, Moreno, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings, Alexander-Arnold
WATFORD: Karnezis; Femenia, Mariappa, Prodl, Britos, Holebas; Pereyra, Doucoure, Capoue, Richarlison; Deeney
Subs: Gomes, Janmaat, Cathcart, Hughes, Carrillo, Gray, Okaka
Subs: Gomes, Janmaat, Cathcart, Hughes, Carrillo, Gray, Okaka
Captain Jordan Henderson is back in the Liverpool XI after remaining on the bench for the loss at Old Trafford. Georginio Wijnaldum is also recalled in midfield as James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are demoted to substitutes.
There are a pair of changes in the Liverpool defence too as Dejan Lovren and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who were targetted as weak links by Jose Mourinho, are swapped for Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. Lovren doesn't even make the bench.
Liverpool's formidable front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all start and should be refreshed after a rare midweek rest. Adam Lallana is missing from the reserves because of a fresh injury setback but Danny Ings is in the squad and will hope for some more valuable minutes.
Having been put to the sword at Arsenal last weekend, Watford manager Javi Gracia has made a tactical change to try to make his side harder to break down, switching to a back five with Miguel Britos making his first start since November after over three months on the sidelines.
Gracia still has several absentees to manage with Tom Cleverley, Christian Kabasele, Gerard Deulofeu, Nathaniel Chalobah, Younes Kaboul and Isaac Success still in the treatment toom, although Craig Cathcart is fit enough to take his place on the bench, having not played since August.
Kiko Femenia is preferred to Daryl Janmaat at right wing-back, while Richarlison gets a 20th chance to end his goal drought as Andre Carrillo and Andre Gray have to wait patiently for their chance.
Heurelho Gomes is back in the squad after missing the trip to the Emirates because of "personal reasons", a Gracia claim which the Brazilian refutes. Greek international Oscar Karnezis, on loan from Udinese, remains first choice for now though.
Troy Deeney ended up eating his words last Sunday, having accused the Gunners of lacking "cojones" following their late capitulation at Vicarage Road in October, only to then see his spot kick saved by Petr Cech. The Hornets captain gets another chance to unsettle the big boys this afternoon.
The Arsenal defeat was only Watford's second in six matches under Gracia, but the Spaniard is yet to oversee an away win since taking over from Marco Silva, losing twice and drawing once with all three of his wins so far coming at home.
However, Watford's four victories on the road this season is only bettered by Burnley and the top five. The problem is that three of those came in their opening three matches and they have lost seven out of eight in the league since winning at Newcastle in November, failing to score in their last four.
The trip to Merseyside will be another test of the Hornets' new defensive resolve, which had seen them keep three clean sheets in five matches prior to their encounter with Arsenal, having previously gone 12 games in the league without a shutout.
Stopping the late-Silva slide has seen Watford keep hold of the top-half position that they have occupied for much of the season, although defeat at Anfield coupled with a Bournemouth win over West Bromwich Albion could see them drop to 11th.
Klopp's entertainers have dropped to fourth in the table courtesy of their loss at Old Trafford, but victory over the Hornets will lift them back above Spurs and to within a point of United as distant runners-up to Manchester City.
Liverpool's defeat to their fierce rivals was just their second in the Premier League since October, but they remain unbeaten at home in the top flight this season, the only team other than the Citizens to still hold that record. It is 17 league games in total since Crystal Palace won at Anfield.
RESULTS: Speaking of Crystal Palace, the Eagles have picked up a massive three points against Huddersfield this afternoon. Bournemouth and Everton were also winners over West Brom and Stoke respectively on a depleted afternoon of Premier League action.
News of Harry Kane's injury layoff will have been greeted fondly on Merseyside, and Egypt, as adored winger Salah looks to become the first non-striker to win the Golden Boot since Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2007-08 season. He is tied on 24 goals with the Spurs striker with eight games to go.
Salah is without a doubt the signing of the season, having scored on his debut against Watford on the opening day of the season and never looked back. The record of 31 goals in a 38-game Premier League season, currently held by Ronaldo and Luis Suarez's is within his reach.
His blank in Manchester ended Salah's six-game league scoring streak, but against Watford he can continue his run of scoring in every top-flight game at Anfield in 2018, which has yielded a total of seven goals in five matches.
The signing of Virgil van Dijk has solved some of Liverpool's problems at the other end, although not all of them. Lovren was bullied by Romelu Lukaku last weekend and although Klopp has claimed that he is injured for today's match, that might be to protect the Croatian's already delicate reputation.
Matip is the beneficiary of Lovren's demise this evening, but the majority of Liverpool fans feel that it could be Gomez who is Van Dijk's partner of the future. The youngster is also fancied as a centre-back by England manager Gareth Southgate, but starts on the right side for the Reds.
Having digested the team news, I feel this could be a tougher test for Liverpool than first anticipated. Liverpool's midfield three are all quite samey, and one of them is going to have to take on the creative responsibility, the Coutinho or Lallana-like role, to break down this Watford back five.
The Reds had no problem breaking down Watford at Vicarage Road in August, scoring three but letting in as many in a six-goal thriller. It was Miguel Britos who scored the Hornets' stoppage-time equaliser that day so the timing of his return at the heart of Watford's defence is quite appropriate.
Liverpool have made enough defensive improvements in recent months to make the likelihood of a repeat of the reverse fixture's 3-3 draw extremely unlikely. In fact, the Reds have been decent at the back all season at Anfield, conceding only 10 goals in 14 league matches.
The next visitors to Anfield are Manchester City in what promises to be a thrilling Champions League quarter-final. There is also the small matter of a Merseyside derby that week so Liverpool really need to regain momentum going into that run by knocking off the Hornets here.
HEAD TO HEAD: This season's reverse fixture was not alone in being a goalfest between these two sides. Across the last seven games, 24 have been scored including a 6-1 Liverpool victory in their encounter last season.
There has never been a goalless draw betweem these two teams in the league, although there has been two in the FA Cup.
Watford's only Premier League triumph over the Reds came in their maiden season in 1999-2000, when they won 1-0 at Anfield courtesy of a strike from Tommy Mooney, the highlight of a campaign which saw them finish bottom of the table.
PREDICTION: I think Liverpool will get the job done tonight but the cold and blustery conditions and the way that Watford intend to set up means that it won't be easy. I will go for 2-0 to the Reds, although it could be more if they get an early goal and force the visitors to come out...
KICKOFF: Watford get the game underway, with today' snow having reached Merseyside just in time for kickoff. There is a light dusting of white on the surface and more coming down...
We are used to Liverpool making fast starts, but they are cautiously feeling their way into the game here. That might be because the players want to find their feet on the slippery surface.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 WATFORD (MOHAMED SALAH)
Ignore me, because Liverpool have scored already and of course it is Mo Salah, and of course it is brilliant. Watford give him too much space in the right channel and he runs at Britos, jinking this way and that and leaving the defender on the floor before poking a shot through Karnezis.
That is a 25th league goal of the season for Salah, and nothing he does should surprise us anymore. What is surprising though is that Watford allowed him so much space, with the wing-back Holebas caught too far up the pitch. Surely Gracia's instruction would have been to double up on the winger?
Salah is nearly through again as Henderson releases him with an early ball through the middle. Karnezis is off his line and beats him to the ball with a slide, just keeping his hands and the ball inside the area.
Mane knocks a ball in behind the Watford back three, into the feet of Firmino, who has three goals in his last four matches against Watford. Mariappa stands him up and forces him backwards on this occasion.
Watford have had a tendency to get their flip flops and beach shorts on early in recent seasons and their early efforts here have that feel to it. They will have to show complete focus and application to get through the next 15 or so minutes unscathed because the Reds are in the mood.
Pereyra appears to be Watford's best outlet but his two ventures forward have each been thwarted by Robertson, who is starting his 16th Premier League game out of 17 as Liverpool's left-back.
Gomez is not as natural going forward as Alexander-Arnold but he gets to the byline here and delivers a decent cross, but Karnezis is well positioned to intercept the cross on the first bounce.
Watford have finally been able to get hold of the ball and string some passes together in the last couple of minutes. Getting it up to Deeney has so far been a challenge though.
Salah drops a teasing free kick over the Watford wall from a tight angle, and Femenia has to be alert at the back post to head behind for a corner, with Firmino lurkng behind him.
The Egyptian is at the centre of everything, and even his not-so-good things are nearly coming off. A poor corner deflects off a couple of Watford bodies and falls kindly to Wijnaldum, whose left-footed shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Capoue.
For the first time tonight we see the running power of Doucoure through midfield, and he shifts the ball to the overlapping Femenia but the pass is a little underhit and Robertson intercepts.
SUBSTITUTION: Can has picked up a knock on the hip and has quickly been withdrawn for James Milner. With the German's contract situation still hanging over Liverpool, could that be the last game that the midfielder plays for the Reds?
Gomez shows Salah-like footwork to work the ball between two Watford defenders and release the goalscorer in front of him. Holebas makes a desperate but well-timed tackle to prevent the Egyptian from isolating Britos inside the visiting penalty area once more.
A decent couple of minutes for Watford with Liverpool giving them hope by conceding possession sloppily twice in their own half. Pereyra skilfully nutmegs Mane and runs into the penalty area, aiming for Deeney with a low cross which is cut out by Van Dijk.
The Anfield crowd let out an anti-complacency roar as Liverpool mess around the ball at the back again. This nearly results in a chance as Firmino and Salah both run onto a hopeful punt forward by Matip, only for Mariappa to show impressive pace to get back.
Salah's corner is just over the head of Firmino at the back post.
CHANCE! Finally some work for Karius to do as Richarlison climbs above Gomez to head a deep Pereyra cross down his throat. They were the type of headed chances that the Brazilian was burying when things were going so well for him at the start of the campaign.
SAVE! Liverpool launch a rapid counter-attack as Milner releases Salah down the left channel. Prodl should commit to the tackle but is that scared of Salah's pace that he sits off and allows the Egyptian to pick out the run of Firmino, who cuts the ball back onto his left foot and sees a left-footed shot pushed away by Karnezis. That could be a crucial save as we approach the break.
Robertson is enjoying another flawless half and knocks a ball in behind for Mane, who had made an excellent run but gets his cross horribly wrong with Salah unmarked at the back post.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 WATFORD (MOHAMED SALAH)
Liverpool get a second just before half time and again it is Salah, but this time it is a wonderfully-worked team goal. Mane and Robertson exchange a one-two before the Scotsman delivers an inch-perfect cross for Salah to cushion home at the back post for his second, both with his weaker right foot!
It is a cliche but that goal came at the ideal time for Liverpool. Had Watford got to half time just one down, Javi Gracia would have been pretty content as they were slowly coming into the game prior to the body blow of Salah's second.
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 WATFORD
The Reds are on their way to another Anfield win and Salah has been the star of the show again. The first goal was individual brilliance and his second was a real team effort. Klopp will be thrilled.
It is 26 in the league and 34 in all competitions now for Salah which writes him into the Liverpool history books.
3️⃣4️⃣ ⚽
The best-ever debut season in #LFC history 🔥#LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/HPQIq5Vslc — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 17, 2018
The three-at-the-back formation has actually played into Liverpool's hands, because it has left space in behind the wing-backs for Salah and Mane to exploit, which led to both goals. I can see Gracia's intentions but he hasn't got it quite right and might want to think about a change.
STATS: Looking at the half-time numbers, it is hard to argue that the Reds did not deserve their second goal. They have enjoyed 62% possession and restricted Watford to only one attempt on target, a Richarlison header which was straight at Lorius Karis.
AS IT STANDS: Just a reminder that if Klopp's boys go on to secure these three points, they would leapfrog Tottenham into third and close to within a point of Man United. Watford already dropped a position to 11th prior to kickoff because of Bournemouth's win over West Brom.
KICKOFF: Liverpool resume the action and will be sniffing more goals as Watford stick with the same personnel and system as the first half. Klopp was of course forced into a first-half change when the injured Can was replaced by Milner.
Robertson spreads a raking 50-yard pass towards Salah but the wind hangs the ball up just enough for Holebas to get back on the cover and head it safetly into the gloves of Karnezis.
GOAL! LIVERPOOl 3-0 WATFORD (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
Boy oh boy is Salah putting on a show tonight, and now Firmino has joined the party. Holebas gets half a tackle in on Salah but the winger chases the ball down and cuts back onto his left foot, crossing cutely for Firmino who cheekily flicks the ball between his legs and past Karnezis.
SHOT! Holebas takes a swing on his right foot and the 25-yard shot is into the side-netting, although Karius appeared to have it covered.
WOODWORK! Gomez picks up a yellow card for a foul on Richarlison on the left edge of the box, and Pereyra beautifully whips the subsequent free kick over the wall and against the crossbar, inches from the top corner. Karius wouldn't have stopped that one if it was on target.
Watford have had nothing from Deeney this evening and Richarlison has drifted in and out of the game, but Pereyra has had some really good moments and arguably warranted some luck there.
Van Dijk cuts off a promising Watford break by intercepting a pass meant for Doucoure down the Watford right.
Lovely skill from Firmino on the left byline unfortunately comes to nothing as he slips at the crucial moment.
The hosts switch the ball nicely to Gomez and he delivers a cross into the perfect area for Firmino, who gets in front of Prodl but cannot get enough contact on his glancing header.
Mane and Salah nearly pull off the one-two of the season with a couple of volleyed passes, but Karnezis is quick off his line, as he has been all night, to clear the ball.
SUBSTITUTION: Richarlison makes way as Will Hughes comes on as a sub for the third game in a row, after three months out with a hamstring injury. Liverpool were frequently linked with the talented midfielder while he was ripping up the Championship at Derby County.
Pereyra can't beat the first man with his cross and Doucoure and Deeney throw their arms up in frustration. The Hornets captain has had no service tonight but his movement hasn't been up to much either.
A back-pass from Mariappa invites Salah to chase down Karnezis, but the Premier League's top scorer perhaps wisely ducks out of the 50-50 with Karnezis who swings his foot through it.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A poor night for Deeney is over as on comes Stefano Okaka, whose only Premier League goal of the season was against Liverpool on the opening day. Meanwhile, Klopp swaps Wijnaldum for Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield, those two vying for one place in the team really.
Doucoure's audition for a top-six move hasn't gone as planned. Reflecting over the whole season, one of the big clubs may take a punt on him but his passing would be a concern for me.
SHOT! Oxlade-Chamberlain lets fly from range and a skip off the turf makes it a bit tricky for Karnezis, who hangs onto the ball at the second attempt.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 WATFORD (MOHAMED SALAH)
Salah has his first Liverpool hat-trick! Yet again it is the rapid changing of direction which leaves the Watford defence in a daze as the winger patiently waits for his opening to prod the ball into the bottom corner. There was not much power to the shot but Karnezis' sight was blocked by the ineffective Salah wall.
SUBSTITUTION: Danny Ings gets a warm reception as he replaces Firmino for the final 10 minutes or so. For now he will just be glad to be back to fitness after a horrible run with injuries, but the striker might need to seek a move elsewhere in the summer.
BLOCK! Okaka thinks he is on goal but Van Dijk makes a last-ditch block in front of his goalkeeper.
SUBSTITUTION: Gracia makes his final change as Janmaat replaces Britos, who might need another three months out to recover from this game. Watford finally switch to a back four.
SAVE! Mane drops a ball over the top for Ings and the striker immediately turns and shoots on the half-volley, only to be denied a first goal since 2015 by a strong hand from Karnezis.
GOAL! LIVERPOOl 5-0 WATFORD (MOHAMED SALAH)
It should have been a goal for Ings, but instead it is a fourth for Salah, who had turned the ball perfectly into the path of the striker and pounced quickly on the rebound after Karnezis had spilled a shot from the substitute.
Mane can't quite bring a Milner pass under control otherwise the Reds might have had a sixth.
The fourth official is kind as he puts just two further minutes on the board for Watford to endure.
Matip preserves Liverpool's clean sheet with a brave block from a Femenia shot after Doucoure's driving run.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 5-0 WATFORD
You will be hard pressed to find a better individual performance than that in Premier League history, from Mohamed Salah tonight. He scored four and assisted the other to inspire Liverpool to a 5-0 thrashing of Watford which takes them back above Spurs into third, one point behind Man United.
Watford's heaviest defeat of the season leaves Gracia with a job to do to get them out of holiday mode.
Thanks for joining me this evening from Anfield but our football coverage for the evening is not done yet, as we have minute-by-minute updates of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester United and Brighton. Tune in now!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
