Watford 0-5 Liverpool: Roberto Firmino Hat-Trick As Reds Run Riot

Liverpool made a winning return to domestic action at Vicarage Road despite the controversial early kick off.

Jurgen Klopp's side were a joy to behold at times as Watford - under new manager Claudio Ranieri - struggled to live with the Reds throughout the 90 minutes.

Story Of The Match

Despite being without key players in the shape of Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Curtis Jones and Thiago, Liverpool were at their dominant best from the outset.

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk found Mohamed Salah with ease time and time again in the first-half as a beleaguered Danny Rose found it impossible to contain the Egyptian.

Mismatches continued to pop up across the pitch as Salah turned a defender to slide Sadio Mane through on goal for a first-time finish to open the scoring.

Liverpool's dominance continued throughout a one-sided first-half before s a slick move found Roberto Firmino to double the lead ahead of the break.

There was still time for the impressive Naby Keita to rattle the woodwork as the Guinean found himself in acres of space on the edge of the Watford penalty area to unleash a strike.

After the break it was much of the same from the visitors as waves of Ben Foster's goal came under siege.

On the 52 minute mark the game was over as a contest as an intercepted Andy Robertson cross broke for Firmino to fire into an empty net to make the score give Liverpool a crucial third.

Having previously been denied by a string of Foster saves, there was no stopping Salah just two minutes later as the Egyptian King mesmerised Watford defenders with quick feet, poise and precision to put further gloss on a resounding victory.

Substitutes for both sides made both sides disjointed and created a more open feel to the clash, perhaps allow the hosts a foothold they had previously lacked.

One bright spark for Ranieri's side was Ismaila Sarr and the Senegalese forward would've grabbed a consolation were it not for a remarkable fingertip save from Caoimhín Kelleher.

With the points already firmly in the bag and heading up to Merseyside, a fresh from the bench Neco Williams tormented Rose once again to cross for another Firmino tap-in in front of the adoring Liverpool supporters.