Watford v Liverpool ratings: Kucka 2, Masina 3; Salah 9, Firmino 8

Klopp's team ease to 5-0 victory in Ranieri's first game in charge

WATFORD RATINGS: Ben Foster - 5. The 38-year-old made a couple of superb saves from Salah but could not stem the tide. He was given little chance by the defending. Reuters

Kiko Femenia - 3. The Spaniard could not get a handle on Mane and Robertson. He was replaced by Ngakia in the 56th minute and it was an upgrade for Watford. Getty

William Troust-Ekong - 3. The Nigerian was made to look static by the Liverpool attack. He was always a yard short of where he needed to be. Getty

Craig Cathcart - 3. The Northern Irishman is not equipped to deal with Liverpool’s front three. His despairing lunge set up the third goal and Salah put him on the ground for the fourth. Reuters

Danny Rose - 2. The full back could not handle Salah, who turned him easily for the first goal. The game turned into a nightmare for the 31-year-old, who appeared to give up. PA

Ismaila Sarr - 4. The Senegalese tormented Liverpool on their last visit to Vicarage Road. There was no repeat of that episode. The winger was kept in check and his one shot was brilliantly saved by Kelleher. Reuters

Juraj Kucka - 2. The Slovak was missing in action. He had a close-up view of Salah’s goal and the sight of him standing with his arms behind his back as the ball went into the net was a metaphor for his team’s performance. Reuters

Moussa Sissoko - 4. The Frenchman battled gamely to stop Liverpool’s relentless attacks. He at least showed some effort but he was overmatched in midfield. PA

Adam Masina - 3. The Moroccan was bypassed by the play and did not give Rose enough support. Taken off for Cleverley at half time. Reuters

Cucho Hernandez - 3. A forgettable performance by the Colombian. He had a bit-part role in Salah’s magnificent goal, giving the ball away on the edge of the box and then failing to trouble the Liverpool striker. PA

Emmanuel Dennis - 3. The Nigerian's frustration was evident. He was given little opportunity to run at the defence and when he did there were no passes on. Replaced by Pedro in the 69th minute. Reuters

SUBS: Jeremy Ngakia (Femenia 56') - 4. The 21-year-old at least showed some fight. He managed to produce a couple of threatening crosses. Getty

Joao Pedro (Dennis 69')- 4. The Brazilian brought some pace, energy and directness to the team. Getty Tom Cleverley (Masina h.t.) - 3. Found it hard to make an impression on the game

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Caoimhin Kelleher - 7. The Irishman was largely a bystander. There will be few more comfortable games in the 22-year-old’s career but he kept his concentration to make a great save from Sarr. Getty

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. The 22-year-old was completely in control on the right, picking out passes at will and cutting the defence apart. Replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with 25 minutes left. Reuters

Joel Matip - 7. An easy afternoon for the centre back. There were few nervous moments and he was able to step into midfield and start a number of attacks. Reuters

Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman gets closer to his best with every match. It was almost too easy for him as Watford rarely produced a threat. Reuters

Andrew Robertson - 7. The Scot got up and down the line, created the third goal and made sure the opposition barely got a sniff of the ball in his area. Reuters

Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain anchored the midfield. There was nothing flashy about his display but he made sure Watford never got a foothold in the game. Getty

Naby Keita - 7. The 26-year-old pressed hard, used the ball well and constantly looked to get forward. He hit the bar with a deflected shot. Reuters

James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old enjoyed himself in the wide open spaces of the midfield. His driving run and cross created the second goal for Firmino. He made way for Williams with seven minutes left. Reuters

Mohamed Salah - 9. The Egyptian is in a class of his own. His pass for Mane to open the scoring was sublime and his goal was stunning. He is by far the best player in the Premier League. Reuters

Roberto Firmino - 8. The Brazilian was subtle, skilful and knitted the attack together. He found the perfect positions to make all three of his goals look easy. Getty

Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese opened his account with an early goal, his 100th in the Premier League. He was lively but will regret not adding to his tally against such a poor defence. Getty

SUBS: Kostas Tsimikas (Robertson 64') - 7. The Greek replaced Robertson and the exchange was seamless. He is a reliable and effective deputy for the Scot. PA

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Alexander-Arnold 65') - 7. The Englishman was given much-needed playing time with the game already won. Getty Neco Williams (Milner 83') - 7. The 20-year-old came on for his first appearance of the season and managed to set up Firmino’s hat-trick.

Mohamed Salah was on fire as he set up Liverpool's commanding 5-0 win over Watford in Claudio Ranieri's first game in charge on Saturday.

Salah set up Sadio Mane's 100th goal in the Premier League and scored a brilliant goal of his own, showing why he is considered the best in the league. Roberto Firmino bagged a hat-trick as Liverpool reclaimed top spot.

The Egyptian star thus proved his huge value to Liverpool, who will be forced to concede some ground in their contract negotiations.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said has no doubts Salah is now better than even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We don't have to talk about what Ronaldo and Messi did for world football and how they were really dominant," Klopp said.

"But in this moment it is clear that there is no one better than him. It was a super pass for the first goal and his goal was absolutely exceptional. "He's in the mood to try things in the box and long may it continue."

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