This was as chastening a return to Premier League football as Claudio Ranieri could have feared. His new Watford charges did not offer the slightest resistance to a Liverpool side that purred through one of the most one-sided top-flight matches in memory, the only redeeming feature being that the scoreline was not significantly heavier. There is no shame in being dwarfed for quality by opponents this good but Watford failed to muster any of the energy or blood and thunder that could be expected of a decorated head coach’s debut, a fact not lost on a home crowd that ironically cheered when Juraj Kucka took their first shot in the 55th minute.
While Sadio Mané’s 100th Premier League strike and a timely hat-trick for Roberto Firmino are worthy talking points, the salient theme was that Mohamed Salah is operating on a different plane to any footballer in the division. His goal, Liverpool’s fourth, was another masterpiece and recalled his exhilarating effort against Manchester City. Was this one as good? It had far less riding on it but otherwise the elements were all present: four defenders stood between Salah and Watford’s goal when he took possession just inside the penalty area but, seeing two of them off by rolling his foot over the ball before leaving Craig Cathcart on the floor as he checked on to his left foot, he worked a half-chance. How masterfully he took it, bending the finish across a helpless Ben Foster, and what consistent brilliance he is producing week after week.
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