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Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a massive 5-0 win over Watford. Jurgen Klopp's side were ruthless from the word go and gave the home side no chance to settle down. Liverpool finished the game with 19 shots, eight of which were on target and five resulted in goals.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the eighth minute after a stunning through ball from Mohamed Salah found him free near the box. Roberto Firmino chipped in with goals on either side of the half-time whistle before Salah got on the scoresheet himself in the 54th minute.
The game looked poised to finish 4-0, but Roberto Firmino completed his hat-trick in the 91st minute, handing the Reds a 5-0 win.
Here are Liverpool's five best players from the 5-0 win over Watford:
#5 - Trent Alexander-Arnold
Making his return from injury, Trent Alexander-Arnold slotted straight into the starting XI. The Englishman showed his class and was on top of his game before Klopp decided to take him off in the 64th minute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Joe Cole was full of praise for the right-back and claimed he could even be tested as a #8 by Gareth Southgate. He told BT Sport:
"He's plays at right-back for Liverpool but he has that freedom to go into midfield when he sees fit. He's a natural footballer, he knows what positions to take, he knows what's around. For Liverpool, keep doing what you're doing. For England, it's a little bit different, because you've got three or four players you think I need to get all these world class players in the team, maybe I play him as a number eight and develop him in there."
But Jurgen Klopp had remarked the the best right-back in the world doesn't need to play in midfield.
#4 - James Milner
James Milner played in his natural midfield position today before slotting in for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back. The veteran rolled back the years and was on Watford players' toes whenever they got the ball.
He got an assist and had 91% pass success before he was asked to move into the right-back position by Jurgen Klopp. The 35-year-old faired well in the defensive role as well before he too was subbed off in the 83rd minute.
#3 - Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane has had a good season, and he finally managed to get his 100th Premier League goal. The Senegal star opened the scoring and was ever-present in the attack.
Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for his star forward and said:
"The special thing is, and we should not forget this, Sadio Mane has scored 100 goals without any penalties. I am not sure if he scored any for Southampton, but not that I know. So that makes a difference. It's a special number. It should be and will be something he will be proud of because it doesn't happen very often. But we don't have to talk about Sadio Mane's quality, he's a world-class player as well and it is incredible how good he is."
#2 - Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is, arguably, the current best player in the world, and he showed exactly why in the game against Watford. Throughout the game, Danny Rose was spun inside out by the Liverpool star, and the defender had no time to get his game together.
The Egyptian scored a goal, earned an assist, and ran the show for Liverpool. Salah finished with 82% pass success and completed three dribbles against Watford.
Jurgen Klopp ran out of words to describe his forward, saying:
"He is for sure one of the best in the world right now. It's not about me to say who is the best. But for me he is the best. I see him every day and that makes it maybe more easy for me. But there is Lewandowski out there and people like that, Ronaldo still scoring like crazy, Messi still pulling out performances to a world-class level. And others will come. But in this moment, for sure he is on top of that list."
#1 - Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino has been fighting for a place in the starting XI with Diogo Jota. But he has seemingly sealed his place for the time being with his performance against Watford. The Brazilian scored a hat-trick to help his side win 5-0, leaving Klopp with no option but to start him in the next game.
Jota will now have to earn his place once again after making a good start to the season. The Portuguese star was on the bench after returning from his injury.
