KLOPP’S EGYPTIAN KING CAN R
JURGEN KLOPP says Mo Salah is the best player in the world right now – and in this mood even a Saudi crown prince could not afford him.
As Liverpool made it an unhappy return to English football for Claudio Ranieri at Vicarage Road, the Egyptian king was not just out of this world – he was on another planet.
It took something special to upstage Roberto Firmino’s first hat-trick since December 2018 and Sadio Mane’s 100th Premier League goal, but Salah was simply exceptional.
He scored another magical goal to rival his stunning solo effort against Manchester City.
Salah said: “I don’t know which one was better, this one or City, but every time I’m in the box I try to give someone the ball to score or to score myself.
“The most important thing today is we scored good goals, everyone up front scored and hopefully we can carry on like that.
“I don’t know if this is the best form of my life. I’m just trying to give 100 per cent of what I have.
“I am confident at the moment, I’m scoring goals and helping the team win points, which is the most important thing.” Kop chief Klopp said: “His performance was massive, absolutely outstanding.
“The whole team’s performance was great but the first goal came from his super pass, then his goal was exceptional.
“Best player in the world? Come on, we all see it. Who’s better than him in this moment?
“We don’t have to talk about what Ronaldo and Messi did for world football, or how long they were really dominant, but at the moment I think it’s clear there’s nobody better than Salah.
“You could see by the way the team celebrated his goal that everyone knew it was something special. If you go back you will find he sco against Watford at ho similar to this one.”
Ranieri turns 70 on anyone who believe Leicester’s 5,000-1 titl Hornets is a hostage t
Rolling away the sto virtue, but Watford’s like a threatening let all over the shop like a
Ismaila Sarr – Liverpool on the right previous meeting – w the middle.
But the Reds were r about their prey with who do not need a cash to sustain a titl
they only had to wait eight minutes to draw first blood.
Salah rolled Danny Rose, inexplicably cast as a left-sided centre-back, and the forward curled an impeccable pass into Mane’s path with the outside of his boot.
The Reds striker’s finish was low and decisive, making him the third African centurion at this level after Didier Drogba and Salah.
Former England keeper Ben Foster was twice required to intervene, acrobatically and at full length, to deny Salah. But the red tide could not be turned back.
Eight minutes before the break, Firmino met James Milner’s driven cross from point-blank range and from that point it was just a question of whether Emperor Claudio would be beaten or embarrassed at his coronation.
Two goals in as many minutes early in the second half soon gave him the answer.
Although Foster’s reflex save spared Craig Cathcart the shame of an own goal, Firmino devoured the rebound.
Then Salah delved into his magician’s top hat and produced another rabbit.
If you thought his goal against City was fabulous, this was another jewel – mesmerising three defenders before shifting the ball on to his left peg and bending his finish into the corner.
Watford were so poor that ironic cheers greeted their first shot of the contest, Juraj Kucka’s long-range sighter straight at Caoimhin Kelleher on 56 minutes. But they escaped further damage until Firmino met sub Neco Williams’ low cross to claim the match ball with the last kick of a desperately one-sided contest.
Ranieri looked like a man who had walked into a monsoon without an umbrella and he said: “Some of the goals were presents from us.
“I watched some bad things about my team but I knew before coming here I would have to work very, very hard – and I am ready to do that.
“I trust all my players but of course I have to tell them where they made mistakes. I wasn’t angry, my aim was to understand my players and now I know them much better.”