Liverpool vs Watford match report: Reds issue firm title statement in hitting hapless Hornets for six

Prior to this stunning dismantling of Watford, Liverpool had not sat top of the Premier League since 7 May 2014. That was the morning after their Luis Suárez-inspired title challenge had received its final, fatal dent as they lost a three-goal lead in a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace. By the end of the day, Manchester City had moved two points clear.

Anfield has witnessed so much change in the two and a half years since then, but it seems fair to suggest a fresh title challenge is now on the horizon. After all, the style with which Jurgen Klopp’s side picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Chelsea – 5-0 winners over Everton on Saturday night – and grabbed the opportunity to climb above the Londoners at the summit by scoring six was a stunning statement from Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Liverpool are a side showing an irresistible momentum. Watford had actually arrived at Anfield with three successive clean sheets behind them but were swept away by the speed and movement of Liverpool’s play, spearheaded by the brilliant duo of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

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In the end the Merseysiders finished with five names on the scoresheet – Sadio Mané (twice), Coutinho Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum all finding the net – and the biggest win of Klopp’s reign. On an afternoon when they managed 17 shots on target, as well as two Daniel Sturridge strikes against the woodwork, it would have not been an injustice had they scored ten.

It was the fifth time Liverpool have scored four goals or more in the Premier League this season and the only blot on this outstanding performance was Daryl Janmaat’s 75th-minute goal for Watford which denied Liverpool only a second clean sheet of the campaign.

The consequence of it all was that Klopp’s men moved on to 26 points, a point clear of Chelsea – and encouragingly for those dreaming of Anfield’s first championship since 1990, three points better off than at this stage of their near-miss campaign under Brendan Rodgers.

It was against Watford at Vicarage Road last December that Klopp suffered his heaviest defeat in England – a 3-0 reverse, as Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo bullied the Liverpool back line – but here the roles were reversed, Watford rendered helpless by Liverpool’s hungry, fluid and nimble-footed attack.

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Even before the goal rush began they had been peppering the visitors’ goal. Firmino volleyed an early Lallana cross straight at Heurelho Gomes. Lucas Leiva failed to squeeze a shot past the goalkeeper following a Coutinho corner.

Liverpool were getting forward at such terrific pace that the chances kept coming. Coutinho ghosted away from Janmaat and shot into the sidenetting. The Liverpool No10 then slipped in Firmino but his compatriot scuffed his shot wide.

“The strange thing is we had the biggest chances before we started scoring,” said Klopp. “We were really concentrated in the first half, it was really good.”

The breakthrough came after 27 minutes, from a short corner routine after Gomes had saved at James Milner’s feet. This Liverpool team might not yet have a star to match Suárez, the man who took them so close to the title in 2014, but Coutinho is getting there and it was his inswinging ball, following Milner’s short delivery, that Mané glanced home.

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The second goal showcased the incisiveness of the hosts’ play. Mané’s flick was picked up by Lallana before Firmino sped the ball on to Coutinho who, from the arc of the area, drilled the ball beneath the diving Gomes. That would be the last involvement from Gomes, who hobbled off with a damaged right knee moments later and left the stadium with the knee in a brace.

Within ten minutes Gomes’s replacement, Costel Pantilimon, was picking the ball out of the net after Emre Can headed the third goal from Lallana’s cross.

For all Liverpool’s excellence, the visiting manager Walter Mazzari will not enjoy reviewing his team’s defending. Firmino was unmarked in front of goal to tap in the fourth goal from Lallana’s cutback after 57 minutes. The defending was no better when Firmino crossed for Mané to slot in the fifth.

Mazzari admitted the absence of defenders Sebastien Prodl and Craig Cathcart had not helped Watford but added: “Liverpool impressed me a lot. I knew they were strong tactically but today their running and pressing was incredibly good.”

As Liverpool finally slowed down, Watford belatedly came to life, with Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius called into action to save well from both Etienne Capoue and Troy Deeney. Janmaat did beat him with a low strike from 15 yards but soon Liverpool were pouring forward again.

Substitute Sturridge struck the woodwork twice before Wijnaldum got his first goal for the club by slotting in the rebound after Pantilimon had parried yet another Sturridge effort. It means ten Liverpool players have now found the net in the Premier League this season. “It shows they all know where the goal is,” said Klopp. They certainly do.

Liverpool (4231): Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lucas, Milner; Henderson, Can; Lallana (Sturridge 71), Mane (Wijnaldum 63), Coutinho (Ejaria 87); Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, (gk) Origi, Moreno, Klavan.

Watford (442): Gomes (Pantilimon 33); Janmaat, Kaboul, Britos, Holebas; Amrabat, Behrami (Watson 61), Capoue, Pereyra (Zuniga 86); Deeney, Ighalo.

Subs: Mariappa, Guedioura, Sinclair, Kabasele.

Man of match: Coutinho

Match rating: 9/10