Liverpool 5-0 Watford: Mane & Van Dijk score double as TAA has THREE assists

Liverpool remain a point clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after Sadio Mane starred in a 5-0 win over Watford.

Match Events

9' GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Watford (Mane)

He has a lot of space on the edge of the six-yard box to meet an Alexander-Arnold cross. His header is out of Foster's reach and he finds the back of the net.

Alexander-Arnold's cross into the box is brilliant and picks out Mane perfectly in between two Watford defenders.

20' GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Watford (Mane)

His first touch takes the ball slightly behind him and he turns his back to goal and backheels the ball over Foster's shoulder and into the empty net.

Once again, Alexander-Arnold puts a brilliant cross into the box to pick out Mane for the goal.

66' GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Watford (Origi)

He comes inside from the left wing and Janmaat can't get anywhere near it. He hits his shot between three Watford defenders and catches out Foster at his near post. 3-0 Liverpool!

Robertson has a lot of time on the ball, but plays a simple, short pass to pick out Origi.

79' GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Watford (Van Dijk)

He rises highest in the box and directs his header back across goal and gives Foster no chance to get to it as he finds the side netting.

Alexander-Arnold gets his third assist of the game and his delivery from the free-kick was once again perfectly hit as he picked out Van Dijk in the box.

82' GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Watford (Van Dijk)

He once again rises the highest in the box to get on the end of the cross, but this time he just has to glance the header into the net.

Robertson's cross is perfectly weighted as he picks out Van Dijk and he leaves the defender with little work to do to score the goal.

Match Report

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.

Player Ratings

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner; Mane, Salah, Origi.

Subs: Mignolet, Keita, Henderson, Sturridge, Lallana, Shaqiri, Camacho.

Watford XI: Foster; Janmaat, Cathcart, Mariappa, Masina; Hughes, Doucoure, Capout, Pereyra; Deulofeu, Deeney.

Subs: Gomes, Kabasele, Navarro, Quina, Cleverley, Sema, Gray.