It was an easy day at the office for Liverpool against Watford.
Jurgen Klopp's side were on fire right from the off at Vicarage Road this afternoon, strolling to a 5-0 victory. There were some brilliant performances throughout the side, with Roberto Firmino netting a hat-trick and Mohamed Salah scoring a goal that was perhaps even better than his strike against Manchester City.
As good Liverpool were on the day, it could be argued that Watford played an even bigger part in the result. They were absolutely brutal throughout, looking like a team that were playing in the 38th game of a relegation season.
It was expected that Claudio Ranieri would bring some sort of 'new manager bounce' in his first game in charge, but the side looked worse than ever. Despite winning seven points from their first seven fixtures of the campaign, the perceived lack of effort today would leave you concerned about their prospects of staying in the division.
Speaking on BT Sport after the game, both Steve McManaman and Joe Cole were thoroughly unimpressed with what they saw from Watford:
McManaman: They weren't fit, I think that's clear to see. They weren't committed, I think that's clear to see today.
They weren't running, nobody put a challenge in. We were saying 'just do something to get the crowd into it', go and make a tackle or chase somebody down to do something to ignite this place.
I said it at halftime, how they got to seven points I'll never know...
Cole: Some of the defending was atrocious, they weren't even getting close to people. I understand people like Craig Cathcart and Danny Rose don't want to get too close to Salah and Mane, but there are times in the game when you've got to come at the opposition, be tight, and defend.
There were occasions when they were so disjointed from the back to the front. It was almost as if there wasn't a new manager.
The thing with a new manager is you get a reaction, a bit of heart or passion. There was nothing from the players.
It was one of the worst performances I have seen from a Premier League club...
It's not normal that I get so angry watching a performance from a team I didn't play for, but it made me angry. Maybe it's because I know Claudio. He has got a big job on his hands...
McManaman: The last time I worked with Joe on a Liverpool game, Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 7-0. Crystal Palace were ten times better than Watford were, at least they were in the game in the first half.
You just can't believe how that performance can happen in a Premier League game when there are so many good points surrounding them today.
They were catching Liverpool on the right day, with a new manager in a full stadium. You were thinking this could be an upset because Liverpool were on international duty.
From the first 30 seconds you knew that it wasn't going to be an upset and it would be stroll in the park for Liverpool.
It certainly looks like Claudio Ranieri will have a big task to keep this team in the Premier League.
Knowing Watford, they won't give him too long to turn things around.
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