Liverpool 5-0 Watford: 5 Talking Points

In a gameweek that saw just 4 games being played out owing to clashing FA Cup fixtures, Liverpool hosted Watford. Jurgen Klopp's men needed a bit of revitalising after their defeat to Manchester United, and Watford proved to be the perfect energy drink - as the Reds, led by the unstoppable Mohamed Salah simply steamrolled Javi Garcia's men.

Mo Salah continued to thrive as he scored his first ever hat-trick in Liverpool colours and then scored another. He also assisted Roberto Firmino's goal - the only other goal of the game. Just can't keep him out of the game, eh?

The deadlock was broken as early as the 4th minute as Sadio Mane released Salah down the right flank as the Egyptian nonchalantly did the rest to score his first of the game and 24th of the league season - A goal that helped him overtake Harry Kane's tally of 24.

Former Chelsea star, Salah, then went on to score in minutes 43, 77, and 85 to utterly torment the visitors, who never quite looked like they had a chance against this whirlwind Liverpool side. Without further ado, here is a look at 5 key talking points from the game:

#5 Andrew Robertson continues to impress

Andrew Robertson(R) set up Mohamed Salah's 2nd goal of the night

24-year-old continued to impress in his first Liverpool season as he was trusted with a spot in the starting 11 yet again - in an ever-changing Liverpool defence line, Robertson has now made 9 consecutive Premier League stars - and the Scottish left-back ensured he didn't disappoint.

His performance, yet again, seemed to dispell any and all notions that claim that he isn't completely confident donning the famous Liverpool jersey just yet. The Scotsman made 64 touches on the ball, while also making 58 passes at an accuracy of 84%.

More importantly, it was his excellent cross across the face of goal that allowed Salah to score his 2nd goal of the game, as he marauded down the left flank before unleashing the perfect ball to the incoming Egyptian.

On the whole, it was a good game for the 24-year-old, who will look to continue putting in impressive performances in a bid to finish the season on a high.

#4 Watford will have to put in their best for a top-half finish

Troy Deeney(L) and Etienne Capoue(R) react to a Liverpool goal

After going from being humbled by Arsenal at the Emirates to being humiliated by Liverpool at Anfield in a span of just a week, Javi Garcia, Watford's manager, is bound to be a concerned man.

Last night's defeat to Liverpool, coupled with Bournemouth's 2-1 win against West Brom saw the Hornets slip to 11th place in the Premier League table. Now, with just 9 points separating 10th-placed Bournemouth and 19th-placed Stoke City, the last stretch of the league promises to leave us with a rather intense bottom-half race.

Out of Watford's last 7 games, 4 are against teams placed higher than them in the table, namely, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Bournemouth. The remaining 3, are against Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Huddersfield.

Currently, level on points with Bournemouth, Javi Garcia's side will undoubtedly have to dig deep and play out of their skins if they are to finish the season in the top half of the table. With Brighton and Newcastle on their heels, the Hornets are bound to feel the testing heat over the next couple of months. Whether it melts them or moulds them remains to be seen.

#3 Liverpool more or less seal a top-4 finish

Indomitable performance from Liverpool yet again

Liverpool returned to winning ways after the disappointing defeat to Manchester United last week with a thumping performance last night. Jurgen Klopp's men were the only top 6 side playing in the Premier League this week due to their absence in the FA Cup, and they knew they couldn't falter.

Led by their talismanic star-signing, Liverpool pulled Watford apart akin to a child playing Jenga. However, while Mohamed Salah did run away with the headlines, the rest of the team did their bit as well.

Sadio Mane notched 2 valuable assists, as did Andrew Robertson. Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino refused to be left out of the party as he eventually became the only player to score in the game, apart from Salah.

Bolstered by this win and the 3 points that came with it, Liverpool now sit 3rd in the Premier League, 2 points ahead of Tottenham, albeit having played an additional game. What will comfort the Reds, though, is the fact that they are now 7 points adrift of 5th-placed Chelsea - the only immediate threat to a top-4 finish.

With just 1 remaining game against a top-6 side (Chelsea in game week 37), barring an unforeseen capitulation, Liverpool very well may have cemented their place in the top 4 this season.

#2 Roberto Pereyra fought as it all fell apart around him

In a game where his side seemed to completely give in to an indomitable Liverpool side, Roberto Pereyra toiled to try and change things for the better. And while he failed to bring about any change, he sure did try.

The 27-year-old put in a lively performance that included 52 touches of the ball and made 34 passes at an accuracy rate of 82%

To paint a better picture, Mohamed Salah had 57 touches on the ball and made 28 passes at an accuracy rate of 61%. Now, by no means am I claiming that Pereyra's performance was anywhere close to Salah's.

However, while there may be a gulf in quality, the point to be noted here is that Pereyra did do his bit, but just wasn't lucky enough on the night. The Argentine also mustered a shot which, unfortunately for him and Watford, hit the woodwork.

#1 Might as well gift wrap the Golden Boot and send it to Mo Salah

Rejected by Chelsea, Moulded by Roma, Unleashed by Liverpool.

That's perhaps the simplest summary of Salah's story that I can offer you. Of course, it's also partially because, quite frankly, I'm uncharacteristically short of words to employ while discussing this man.

When he was signed in June of last year for an initial fee of €42 million, few thought he'd survive in the Liverpool first team. Even fewer thought he'd put in sustained performances. Only lunatics, however, could've assumed he'd excel in this manner with his sustained performances.

In his first season at one of the biggest clubs in by far, the most challenging footballing league in the world, Mohamed Salah has written himself a wonderful little fairytale here.

His 3rd goal last night gave him his first ever hat-trick in Liverpool colours. Salah also became the highest-ever goalscorer for Liverpool in a debut season, eclipsing club-heartthrob Fernando Torres' previously standing record-tally of 33.

Last night's quadruple also gives Salah a comfortable 4-goal lead in the Premier League's Golden Boot rankings over Tottenham's hitman Harry Kane - who promises to play no part for at least another month, if not more, owing to a tragic ankle injury.

With Sergio Aguero in 3rd-place with just 21 goals - That's how good Salah has been. I'm forced to use 'just' to describe a tally of 21 league goals - the race for the Golden Boot seems as clear as the race for the Premier League title.

Might as well gift wrap the Golden Boot and send it over to Salah's, eh?

Edited by Sripad