Premier League: Firmino hat-trick and Salah scorcher lead Liverpool thrashed Watford

Claudio Ranieri could not have imagined a more humbling comeback to Premier League football. His new Watford side offered no fight to a Liverpool side that dominated one of the most one-sided Premier League meetings in recent memory, with the only saving grace being that the scoreline was not substantially higher. There's no shame in being outclassed by opponents this talented, but Watford lacked the intensity, blood, and thunder that a seasoned head coach's debut should have, a reality not missed on a home crowd that cheered ironically when Juraj Kucka took their first shot in the 55th minute.

While Sadio Mané's 100th Premier League goal and Roberto Firmino's timely hat-trick were important talking points, the overarching message was that Mohamed Salah is on a different level than any other player in the competition. His fourth goal for Liverpool was another beauty, recalling his thrilling performance against Manchester City. Was this one as good as the last? When Salah got possession well inside the penalty area, four defenders stood between him and Watford's goal, but he saw 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. What a superb take, bending the finish across a helpless Ben Foster, and what constant brilliance he's putting forth week after week.

Before kick-off, Ranieri received the boisterous greeting one would expect from a grinning Jurgen Klopp and a group of fans who have seen their fair share of saviours. Perhaps he could learn from a recent predecessor: Nigel Pearson led Watford to a remarkable 3-0 victory over Liverpool 20 months ago, and was serenaded to the tune of "Bad Moon Rising." Even if things went sour after that, a recurrence would have afforded promise of a more pleasant relegation battle this season.

In reality, February 2020 feels like it happened a long time ago, a feeling that soon carried to the pitch. It took Mane only eight minutes to break through Ranieri's first line of defence, and no one was surprised. Danny Rose was chosen as the left center-back, but he had already been exposed, costing Watford even more money. Salah rolled him way too easily 10 yards inside his own half, but it needed something exceptional to find a goal-scoring route from there.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄. 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄, 𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐒! 👏 pic.twitter.com/MAYCub37Cc

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 16, 2021

Salah let the ball run before bending a beautiful first-time pass to Mane, who had sprinted centrally into the 'D'. It was a stunning piece of work, and the finish, taken low on the run and steered past Foster, was equally so. The achievement it represented was a monument to Mané's enduring greatness; the goal's origin suggested a creative working at the edge of his abilities.

Watford had nearly 20 minutes to make their way inside Liverpool's half. Meanwhile, Foster stretched to tip a Salah curler away before Rose, this time on the right side of goal, blocked the same player. Watford could have been forgiven for thinking they were lucky when Salah was released by Trent Alexander-Arnold but enabled Foster to smother him.

They temporarily stabilised the ship without posing any threat to Caoimhn Kelleher's aim. Liverpool extended their lead eight minutes before half-time, with Naby Keta identifying James Milner's run to the left byline and Firmino accepting the simple task of converting the veteran's driven central. Ranieri's half-time woes would have been worse if a subsequent Keta effort had deflected in rather than clipping the bar.

Watford had seen 17% of the ball, and it was the ideal afternoon for Klopp to forget about his worries after losing Alisson, Fabinho, and Curtis Jones to the unwelcome repercussions of the international break. After the halftime, Ranieri brought on Tom Cleverley, but nothing changed. Salah was denied yet again by Foster's incredible save, but it was only a momentary reprieve. It was all Craig Cathcart could do to prevent an own goal when he stretched to intercept Andy Robertson's ball towards Salah. Firmino, who was prowling once more, snatched the loose ball. If the cross had reached Salah, he would have been offside, but that case was dismissed.

Salah's action two minutes later, when he submitted the latest entry in his personal goal of the season tournament, was unquestionable. Firmino isn't a threat in that department, but the Brazilian earned the match ball with his third poacher's finish of the afternoon, stabbing in Neco Williams' cross at the death.