Player ratings: Watford 0-5 Liverpool
As dominant and one sided a game of football as you’re likely to see, as we simply swept Watford. Let’s see how the lads got on…
Kelleher (7) – Could have watched the game from the stands for the most part but what he did have to do, he did well. Read the game well knowing when to come off his line and made an excellent save at his near post second half, which would have been offside but he wasn’t to know that. Looks to be improving all the time.
TAA (8) – He didn’t get the assists today but some of his passing was out of this world, first half in particular. He makes 20 yard passes look like 5 yard passes and it caused Watford problems all game. Subbed second half in preparation for Atletico midweek.
Matip (8) – Probably did more attacking than defending today but he’s become really important to the way the team plays, especially when teams park the bus. His forays forward allow us to overload the opponents midfield or penalty area and he’s so good technically that you don’t notice a drop off when he’s in possession. He and Virgil complement each other perfectly as well. I challenge any team to claim to have a better CB pairing.
Van Dijk (8) – Played a long diagonal to Salah first half that Xabi Alonso would have been proud of. Effortless, right on Salah’s toe and defensively never had to get out of second gear. The scary thing for the opposition is, given he was out so long he’s probably not even close to being 100% yet. Let that keep you up at night opposition forwards.
Robertson (7) – Looked a little jaded after his excursions with Scotland but did every thing he needed to, both defensively and it was his run and pass that led to Bobby’s second and our killer third goal.
Henderson (7) – Played the six in Fabinho’s absence and much like our CB’s, never really had to get out of third gear. Passing still a little off at times, the skipper has yet to hit top form this season.
Keita (7.5) – Solid display from Keita, neat and tidy in possession and you forget how good he is at winning back possession. Got a couple of strikes at goal off too. Another glimpse at a really good player who should have a bigger chapter in our recent history than he does. Could this finally be his season?
Milner (8) – Back in his preferred midfield position, gave the Watford players a lesson in fitness levels. So often Milner gets his rewards for just continually doing the basics right. The assist he got today was a prime example of that – continue your run and if there is space then run into it. He did that today while the Watford players around him jogged back, received the ball allowing him to pull back to Bobby for a tap in. Brilliant player to have around, especially for the likes of Jones and Elliot, consistently makes the correct decisions on the pitch.
Salah (9) – Well good luck choosing goal of the month for October. After scoring a goal straight out of the top drawer against City, he only went and did it again with another dazzling display of footwork and finishing. His assist for the opening goal was absolutely world class as well. It’s been said a lot recently but on current form, Salah is the best in the world right now. He gave Danny Rose what was likely the worst afternoon of his career, his head is probably still spinning! Mo’s a match winner and his worldie assist along with another goal of the season contender was enough to see him named once again as this week’s McMOTM.
Firmino (8.5) – Really unlucky to get a hat trick and miss out on McMOTM but all three were tap ins and the sheer quality of Salah’s contributions swung it in his favour but brilliant to see Bobby back amongst the goals this season. For the first time in his LFC career under Klopp, Bobby now has competition for his place. That competition needs to be there to keep players sharp and hungry and it looks like it’s working with Bobby this season.
Mane (8) – Looking back to his best week on week, finished his goal superbly and is back to terrorising his fullback with skill and power. I feel like his and Salah’s relationship maybe seems a bit warner than it has in years gone by but that may just be my imagination.
Subs:
Ox (6) – Valuable minutes for the Ox. He’ll be hoping for more in the coming weeks.
Tsimikas (7) – Got into the rhythm of the game immediately and was good defensively and looked lively in attack.
Williams (7) – Neco’s first minutes since his return from injury and he’ll be pleased with his input as he skipped past a beleaguered Danny Rose to grab himself an assist.
Kloppwatch (10) – Another 10 for Kloppo then, as we returned from the international break to an early kick off, away from home, missing two key players from the spine of the team but still absolutely wiped the floor with the opposition. We were still pressing in the 87th minute. The personality of this manager courses through the team.
Summary
A complete destruction of Watford then and an excellent tune up game for Atletico.
I mentioned on the match thread that I could write an article itself on the mismatch between Danny Rose and Mo Salah today. I won’t but I want to just touch on it a bit. There’s two players who 10 years ago, probably had a similar ceiling in terms of ability. If anything Rose was probably a little ahead of Salah at that time. He was England’s number one for a while and City were after him the same season they signed Kyle Walker. Yet he’s whined and moaned and huffed his entire career. Ends up not being able to get a game for Newcastle and now finds himself at Watford.
Compare that to Salah who overcame being rejected by Chelsea to consistently improve in every aspect of his game, year on year until now you see the total attacking package. Salah never used to have that outside of the boot assist to Mane in his locker. Now he makes it look effortless. His touch, passing have gone from erratic to seamless, his finishing has gone up a level and he’s one of the strongest players in the league, considering his relatively diminutive stature. This is a player who’s dedication has squeezed every last drop of his natural talent and put him right up there with the best in the world.
The comparison between the two characters could not have been better encapsulated than their performances today. Rose looked overweight and of questionable fitness levels and Salah could smell blood from the minute it kicked off as he immediately just shrugged Rose out the way and left him in his wake. It set the tone for the entire game.
Players like Curtis and Elliot will never have a better chance at developing into top players than they do training and living alongside the likes of Milner and Salah. Hendo, Thiago, Van Dijk… How they eat, how they train, how they live their lives and if ever proof was needed that it worked, that mismatch between Salah and Rose today provided it.
Anyway, Atletico next and this time Alisson will be in the goal! I imagine the boys are pumped for this one after the mugging Atletico gave us the last time we played them. I’m looking forward to the game and another three points would see us all but qualified from the group, allowing rotation in the run up to the busy festive period.
Anyway that’s all for tonight troops. Walk on!
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