Salah scores four goals, Liverpool "breathes fire into the neck" of Man Utd

Scorers: Salah 4, 43, 77 & 85, Firmino 49

Liverpool were third and five points behind Man Utd before round 31. But Mourinho's team's busy FA Cup quarter-final this weekend gave Klopp and his team the chance to close the gap, and they took full advantage of that opportunity, crushing Watford in the round 31 match on March 17.

Mohamed Salah was the star of Liverpool's 5-0 win. He scored twice in the first half and repeated the feat in the second half, taking him to the top of the Premier League scoring charts with 28 goals.

In all competitions, the Egyptian striker has scored 36 goals since the beginning of this season - an impressive achievement never seen before for a Liverpool player in his debut season.

As if to add more polish to yesterday's brilliant performance, between the two doubles, Salah also contributed an assist, setting up teammate Roberto Firmino to score.four minutes after the break.

Watford showed little resistance or response at Anfield, continuing their poor away form under Javi Gracia.

Yesterday's match against Liverpool also witnessed Watford's strikers once again failing to score when playing away sinceGracia took office on January 21, replacing his fired predecessor Marco Silva.

Liverpool started smoothly with the opening goal in the fourth minute. Facing three yellow-shirted defenders as he entered the 18-yard area, Salah still found a way to turn, causing Miguel Britos to fall to the ground, then shot low past goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.

Watford sat deep for the first half hour, and that was why Liverpool failed to extend their lead after the opener. But when they started pushing higher towards the end of the first half, Watford paid the price.

Liverpool doubled their lead shortly after Richardlison headed straight at goalkeeper Loris Karius. Andy Robertson's cross from the left wing was neatly finished by Salah with a close-range shot in the 43rd minute.

Four minutes into the second half, Liverpool scored their third goal. Salah was still the star, twisting his body, getting past the Watford defender on the right wing, then accelerating down the touchline, strung the ball in front of the goal for Firmino to backheel impromptu into the distance, before the helpless gaze of goalkeeper Karnezis.

Former Juventus player Roberto Pereyra hit the Liverpool crossbar with a free kick a few minutes later. But that was all Watford could muster at Anfield. The visitors almost gave up in the final 15 minutes and Salah took full advantage of that opportunity to add to his tally.

In the 77th minute, the Egyptian striker dribbled the ball back and forth, finding a rare space between five yellow-shirted defenders, then fired a low but dangerous shot into the far bottom corner, beating Karnezis for the third time. Eleven minutes later, Salah made a beautiful one-two, allowing Danny Ings to face Karnezis. The new striker could not beat the Watford goalkeeper with his final touch, but Salah was there in time to make amends for his teammate, receiving the rebound from Karnezis and then scoring the rebound, sealing the score at 5-0.

Line-up:

Liverpool(4-3-3): Karius - Gomez, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson - Henderson, Can (Milner 27), Wijnaldum (Oxlade-Chamberlain 71) - Salah, Firmino (Ings 79), Mane

Unused subs: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold

Yellow card: Gomez

Watford(3-4-3): Karnezis - Mariappa, Holebas, Britos (Janmaat 81) - Femenia, Doucoure, Capoue, Prodl - Pererya, Deeney (Okaka 70), Richarlison (Hughes 65)

Unused Subs: Gomes, Cathcart, Carrillo, Gray

Referee: A Taylor

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