A response was needed after the disappointment of last week’s visit to Old Trafford. The long week without Liverpool left everyone waiting for the kick off against Watford. What a response it was as the Reds unveiled the latest instalment of the Los show, thrashing the Hornets 5-0 at Anfield.
It took nary four minutes for Mohamed Salah to score the first of his four goals in the match. The first goal merely set the tone for what was a single-handed mauling by the winger. Amidst the Anfield snow, Salah put on a clinic, climbing to the top of the leagues’ scoring table.
There is no question who this side’s talisman is now, if there had been any doubt. It was not just the number of the goals but the variety and quality that was so impressive. Salah soared to new heights in one of the best performances by a Liverpool player in recent memory.
Beyond the scoring spectacle, Liverpool’s defence did a job too. Watford barely had a sniff of goal despite rising to a respectable period of play during the first half. With only one shot on target, Loris Karius rarely touched the ball and the defence in front of him handled the Hornets with ease. Virgil van Dijk cruised with clam and class and the Reds secured another clean sheet.
Here are four findings from the match.
Magical Mo
The superlatives have all but been exhausted in describing Mo Salah’s season.
The Egyptian climbed atop the scoring table in scintillating fashion, putting Miguel Britos on his backside before finishing his first goal with ease.
Every time he touched the ball, he drew three Watford defenders but there was simply no stopping the Egyptian. He bookended the first half with a second, turning in Andrew Robertson’s sumptuous cross.
Goal three saw the winger dart inside, put two of five collapsing defenders on the ground, while simultaneously being kicked, before beating the goalkeeper too.
His fourth showed a striker’s ruthlessness as he collected a rebound and slammed it home. By the end he climbed to 28 goals in the league and 36 in all competitions, even collecting his 10th assist in the process. This was his 41st game for the club. Greatest debut season in the Red’s history.
Robertson’s range
The exquisiteness of Robertson’s cross for Mo Salah’s second showed just how much the Scot has grown.
No longer does the fullback drive to the end line and lash crosses in indiscriminately with carelessness.
Since he claimed a regular starting role, he has become increasingly savvy. Just before the assist, he released Sadio Mané with a angled pass breaking lines. Later, he nearly found Salah again with a 50-yard diagonal across the midline.
In a season where a number of players have staked claims in support of their improvement, Robertson’s ascendancy must have eclipsed even his most ardent supporters at Melwood.
Always promising going forward, he has proven a strong partner to newly arrived van Dijk, locking down the left side of the defence. Every week, he looks as though he keeps getting better.
Firmino's flash
For all the deserved accolades Salah receives, Roberto Firmino is putting together the best year of his career as well.
His second-half goal showed the kind of flashy skill the Brazilian possesses. Flicking a Salah cross in with the heel of his trailing leg to bewilder Watford’s goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, Firmino finished in trademark style.
He has now scored 14 goals in the league and 23 in all competitions. It is not only his best season in Red but tops the 22 goals he once scored at Hoffenheim.
To go with the goal tally the enigmatic number nine also has 13 assists on the season with seven in the league. If it were not for his Egyptian teammate, there would be considerably more chatter about the Brazilian.
Cost of Can
As Emre Can winds down his contract with the Reds, he has been providing a kind of slow-motion summary of his value to the club.
Against Watford, Liverpool completely dominated the midfield until the young German was forced to leave through injury. He had already begun to put his imprint on the match as the strongest of the three midfielders. Upon being replaced, Watford was able to immediately find their way back into the match.
While the Can plays coy on contract status, waiting until the end of the season to make any decisions, Liverpool may well rue losing a player of his quality.
While he can divide opinion, his contributions at the end of last season and throughout this one have crafted a hole that will prove difficult to fill, even with the impending arrival of Naby Keita. There is no other midfielder at the club with his combination of size, power, or skill. An extended absence could very well be a preview of life without him.