LIVERPOOL’S DEVASTATING FRONT three of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were all on target as the Reds battered Watford 6-1 to go top of the Premier League.
Chelsea ran riot in a 5-0 hammering of Everton on Saturday to reach the summit, but Liverpool responded in kind with a slick, incisive display at Anfield to displace Antonio Conte’s men.
Unsurprisingly, it was Coutinho, Firmino and Mane that proved the Hornets’ tormentors in chief and the latter met Coutinho’s cross to open the scoring.
Coutinho drilled home from Firmino’s pass to double the lead and there was a simple elegance about the third as Emre Can nodded in Adam Lallana’s cross before half-time for his second goal in as many games.
Liverpool were equally impressive after the break. Lallana teed up Firmino to make it four and the Brazilian turned provider for Mane to score his second.
Daryl Janmaat grabbed a consolation for Watford, but Georginio Wijnaldum rounded off the rout in injury-time.
It was a huge statement of intent from Jurgen Klopp’s men who are now unbeaten in nine top-flight games, while Watford – who had kept three straight clean sheets prior to the rout – must lick their wounds over the international break.
Coutinho made it 2-0 after half an hour. Dave Howarth
Dave Howarth
Liverpool were bright from the off and Firmino volleyed Adam Lallana’s cross at Heurelho Gomes before Lucas Leiva drove straight at the Watford goalkeeper from point-blank range.
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The Reds continued to pour forward in numbers and Mane broke at pace to tee up Coutinho, who took a great touch inside before drilling wide of the near post.
Liverpool’s football was scintillating and Firmino wastefully poked wide when slipped in by Coutinho. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 27th minute, though.
Coutinho worked a short corner with James Milner before delivering for Mane to glance his header past Gomes. It was 2-0 three minutes later.
A slick move led to Firmino picking out Coutinho, who took a touch out of feet and drilled into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box, Watford’s misery compounded when Gomes limped off.
And the game was put beyond doubt shortly before the break. Lallana crossed from deep on the right and the unmarked Can guided a simple header past Gomes.
There was no let-up after the interval and there was little surprise when Liverpool made it 4-0 in the 57th minute.
The Reds carved open the visiting defence and Lallana’s brilliant low ball was turned home by Firmino. By the hour it was 5-0.
Watford were unable to contend with a rampant Liverpool. Dave Howarth
Dave Howarth
This time Firmino slipped in a wonderful pass to Mane, who clinically finished past substitute ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon.
The game was well beyond Watford, but Etienne Capoue was twice denied by Loris Karius before their brief spell of pressure yielded a goal back when Janmaat coolly finished past Karius.
Liverpool remained in control, though, with substitute Daniel Sturridge twice rattling the crossbar, and it was from his saved shot that Wijnaldum turned in the rebound to get off the mark for the Reds.
Meanwhile, Robert Snodgrass came off the bench to score one and set up another as Hull City came from behind to stun Southampton 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium and end an eight-game winless Premier League streak.
The Scotland winger surprisingly started Sunday’s game on the bench, but was called into action earlier than expected when Will Keane pulled up injured in the first half, only to inspire a remarkable second-half comeback that saw the Tigers, who lost their previous six in a row in the league, net twice in 125 seconds.
Snodgrass delighted with Hull's big win. Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
Southampton made the long trip north on the back of a famous triumph over Inter in the Europa League on Thursday and showed few signs of fatigue in an impressive first-half display, capped by an early penalty from Charlie Austin.
And Claude Puel’s side looked by far the better team until Snodgrass turned the game on its head in a remarkable two-minute spell, smashing home from the edge of the box before setting up Michael Dawson’s dramatic winner just after the hour.
Hull’s first league win since August means they are now on 10 points, while Southampton remain in midtable
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Liverpool go top as Klopp's side smash six past Watford
LIVERPOOL’S DEVASTATING FRONT three of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were all on target as the Reds battered Watford 6-1 to go top of the Premier League.
Chelsea ran riot in a 5-0 hammering of Everton on Saturday to reach the summit, but Liverpool responded in kind with a slick, incisive display at Anfield to displace Antonio Conte’s men.
Unsurprisingly, it was Coutinho, Firmino and Mane that proved the Hornets’ tormentors in chief and the latter met Coutinho’s cross to open the scoring.
Coutinho drilled home from Firmino’s pass to double the lead and there was a simple elegance about the third as Emre Can nodded in Adam Lallana’s cross before half-time for his second goal in as many games.
Liverpool were equally impressive after the break. Lallana teed up Firmino to make it four and the Brazilian turned provider for Mane to score his second.
Daryl Janmaat grabbed a consolation for Watford, but Georginio Wijnaldum rounded off the rout in injury-time.
It was a huge statement of intent from Jurgen Klopp’s men who are now unbeaten in nine top-flight games, while Watford – who had kept three straight clean sheets prior to the rout – must lick their wounds over the international break.
Liverpool were bright from the off and Firmino volleyed Adam Lallana’s cross at Heurelho Gomes before Lucas Leiva drove straight at the Watford goalkeeper from point-blank range.
The Reds continued to pour forward in numbers and Mane broke at pace to tee up Coutinho, who took a great touch inside before drilling wide of the near post.
Liverpool’s football was scintillating and Firmino wastefully poked wide when slipped in by Coutinho. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 27th minute, though.
Coutinho worked a short corner with James Milner before delivering for Mane to glance his header past Gomes. It was 2-0 three minutes later.
A slick move led to Firmino picking out Coutinho, who took a touch out of feet and drilled into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box, Watford’s misery compounded when Gomes limped off.
And the game was put beyond doubt shortly before the break. Lallana crossed from deep on the right and the unmarked Can guided a simple header past Gomes.
There was no let-up after the interval and there was little surprise when Liverpool made it 4-0 in the 57th minute.
The Reds carved open the visiting defence and Lallana’s brilliant low ball was turned home by Firmino. By the hour it was 5-0.
This time Firmino slipped in a wonderful pass to Mane, who clinically finished past substitute ‘keeper Costel Pantilimon.
The game was well beyond Watford, but Etienne Capoue was twice denied by Loris Karius before their brief spell of pressure yielded a goal back when Janmaat coolly finished past Karius.
Liverpool remained in control, though, with substitute Daniel Sturridge twice rattling the crossbar, and it was from his saved shot that Wijnaldum turned in the rebound to get off the mark for the Reds.
Meanwhile, Robert Snodgrass came off the bench to score one and set up another as Hull City came from behind to stun Southampton 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium and end an eight-game winless Premier League streak.
The Scotland winger surprisingly started Sunday’s game on the bench, but was called into action earlier than expected when Will Keane pulled up injured in the first half, only to inspire a remarkable second-half comeback that saw the Tigers, who lost their previous six in a row in the league, net twice in 125 seconds.
Southampton made the long trip north on the back of a famous triumph over Inter in the Europa League on Thursday and showed few signs of fatigue in an impressive first-half display, capped by an early penalty from Charlie Austin.
And Claude Puel’s side looked by far the better team until Snodgrass turned the game on its head in a remarkable two-minute spell, smashing home from the edge of the box before setting up Michael Dawson’s dramatic winner just after the hour.
Hull’s first league win since August means they are now on 10 points, while Southampton remain in midtable
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