LONDON (England): Mohamed Salah scored a double as Liverpool moved 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win against bottom-of-the-table Watford on Saturday.
Salah produced two moments of real quality from Jurgen Klopp’s men by finishing off from a rapid counter-attack from a Watford corner to open the scoring before flicking home a second a minute from time.
Watford, who remained six points adrift of safety, but will ponder on their missed opportunities against the European champions.
Nigel Pearson, who took charge as Watford manager, showed with the 40-point difference between the sides at opposite ends of the table not in evidence in their performances.
However, the big difference was obvious in both boxes as the league’s lowest scorers passed up a host of huge opportunities while Salah was deadly.
All three of Liverpool’s attacking trident were involved as Roberto Firmino’s pass over his head freed Sadio Mane down the left and he fed Salah to cut inside on his weaker right foot to bend the ball brilliantly into the far corner.
Watford should still have been level before the break when Ismaila Sarr somehow also failed to connect with Alisson Becker grounded after parrying Gerard Deulofeu’s cross.
This was Liverpool’s seventh game in a run of 15 matches in 50 days across five competitions and the strain on Jurgen Klopp’s squad was not only shown in a jaded display but another injury blow.
Georginio Wijnaldum limped off on the hour mark, and could now be a doubt for the Reds’ attempt to win the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar later this week.
