Joy of six as Reds romp to Premier League summit

Sadio Mane's double was accompanied by goals from Philippe Coutinho, Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum as Jurgen Klopp's side ran rampant.

Even Daryl Janmaat's consolation to make it 5-1 could not dampen the mood around a joyous Anfield as Liverpool moved a point clear of Chelsea.

Klopp made two changes from the win over Crystal Palace last week, with James Milner replacing Alberto Moreno at left-back as expected.

Dejan Lovren's illness forced the German's hand, however, with Lucas coming in to replace the Croatian.

Knowing a win would send the Reds top, the home side struggled to gain control in a nervous opening 15 minutes – but soon burst to life with Lucas and Coutinho both missing good chances, with Mane the main instigator.

It was Mane who opened the scoring after 27 minutes, as Liverpool finally made their dominance count. Milner returned a short Coutinho corner back to the Brazilian, whose whipped ball into the box invited the winger to nod home.

Watford were reeling, and three minutes later, fell further behind. This time, Roberto Firmino would offer Coutinho the ball, with the no10 taking a terrific touch to bring it on to his stronger right foot. From the edge of the area, he pinged one into Heurelho Gomes' bottom right-hand corner.

Gomes' efforts to save that strike saw him taken off injured, but his replacement Costel Pantilimon could do little about Emre Can's third just before half-time, nodding home at the near post to convert a precise Adam Lallana ball.

If the visitors had hoped the half-time whistle would bring respite, those hopes were proved misguided within 12 minutes of the restart.

The Reds recycled possession from a clear free-kick into the danger zone and eventually sprung Lallana free, whose ball across the face of goal was tapped in by Firmino.

Firmino then turned provider on the hour mark, outworking and outmuscling Jose Holebas, allowing him to tee up Mane for his second.

Klopp took the opportunity to freshen things up from the bench, but that saw Liverpool lose a little momentum, with Watford staging a mini-revival.

The Reds were indebted to Loris Karius for a string of fine saves, most notably from Etienne Capoue, but was beaten by a low effort from Janmaat.

Daniel Sturridge, on as a substitute, would hit the woodwork twice but there was still time for Liverpool to put further gloss on the scoreline.

Wijnaldum, off the bench, tapped home a Sturridge effort in stoppage time to send the Kop home singing.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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