Premier League - Liverpool 5 Watford 0 - Match Report
Reds maintain top-spot following 5-0 thrashing of Watford
Sadio Mane scored a superb double and Virgil van Dijk also grabbed two goals as Liverpool ended a recent blip and retained top spot in the Premier League with an emphatic 5-0 win over Watford.
A run of three draws in four league matches had seen Liverpool's advantage over Manchester City trimmed to a point heading into Wednesday's fixtures.
However, Liverpool never looked like a team in danger of cracking under the pressure as Mane's brilliant brace - highlighted by a stunning backheeled finish for his second - put them in command.
Divock Origi put the result beyond doubt in the second half and a pair of late headers from Van Dijk completed the rout.
City remain firmly on their heels, however, the defending champions beating West Ham 1-0 to maintain an extremely slender gap at the league's summit.
Watford came to Anfield on the back of a 5-1 win at Cardiff City but any fears of them denting Liverpool's challenge were calmed in the ninth minute, the Hornets punished for poor defending out wide and in the box as Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped in a superb cross for the unmarked Mane to rise and head into the top-left corner.
That same pair combined again on 20 minutes as Liverpool threatened to run riot. The ball was eventually worked to Alexander-Arnold after a surging run from Mohamed Salah and the England full-back again found Mane, who made up for a poor first touch in spectacular style by beating a helpless Ben Foster with a gloriously audacious backheel.
Only the woodwork prevented Salah from making it three from a tight angle, before Troy Deeney wasted a gilt-edged chance to halve the deficit as he failed to connect cleanly with a Gerard Deulofeu cross.
Liverpool took their foot of the gas somewhat after the restart, but Origi extinguished any lingering hope of a Watford comeback by cutting in from the right and powering in his first league goal since a Merseyside derby winner in December.
Alisson made a pair of fine saves from Andre Gray before Watford's misery was compounded, Van Dijk heading home twice in the space of three minutes to round things off.
Goals/ Highlights!
Goal! Liverpool hit 5! van Dijk grabs his second of the evening!
Goal! Virgil van Dijk heads the league leaders into a 4-0 lead!
Goal! Origi smashes the ball past Ben Fosters near post. 3-0 Game over!
Goal! Sadio Mane at the double! This time with a back heel, very impressive from the Senegal international!
Goal! Sadio Mane heads the Reds into an early lead!
Live Updates
Preamble
Warm up time for Liverpool! We are 20 minutes away from Kick-off!
Back in Red 🔴
Back at Anfield 🙌#LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/nzvSde6qAa — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2019
Just look at the concentration on Tom Cleverly's face!
🍊😋#LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/RZlcaCaF9G — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 27, 2019
Now for Watford! No surprises really from Javi Gracia! It's an unchanged side that beat Cardiff 5-1 last time out!
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
An unchanged XI! 🙅♂️
Kabasele replaces Britos (ill) on the bench.#LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/HhbzCMSWxO — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 27, 2019
Team News! First up Liverpool, No Roberto Firmino in the side after coming off injured against Man United. Divok Origi takes his place in the side!
🚨 #LIVWAT TEAM NEWS 🚨
Tonight's #LFC line-up... https://t.co/YMBrLtCBOU — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2019
Good news, Watford have arrived, which almost certainly means that we are underway at 23:00 Mecca!
📍 Anfield#LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/zqMJH0IZGm — Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 27, 2019
How magical is Anfield looking in the February sunshine? Heaven!
Evening 👋 #LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/CU2hg3BtB2 — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 27, 2019
Hello! Welcome to the Live Updates of Liverpool Vs Watford in the Premier League. Can Jurgen Klopp guide the Reds to victory over a Watford side who have impressed under Spanish boss Javi Gracia in recent weeks? It's fair to say that Liverpool has faulted slightly and will be targeting a morale-boosting win to maintain their place at the top of the Premier League table. As ever, you can join me for all the build-up, team news and goals as they go in from Anfield
