Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has doubled the Reds’ lead vs Watford, just 10 minutes after opening the scoring for Klopp’s side. Take a look at Mane’s insane back-heel finish. In the 20th minute of the tie, Trent Alexander-Arnold notched his second assist of the night with a fantastic pass into Mane – who was left completely free in Watford’s box. Mane’s first touch was quite heavy and with the ball behind him the Senegalese star decided to turn the style on by pulling off an insane back-heel to double Liverpool’s lead. Check out the goal below: The Reds are off to a flying start against the Hornets, this is the performance that fans have been crying out for from Jurgen Klopp’s side in recent weeks.<doc-sep>SADIO MANE pulled off a sublime piece of skill to double Liverpool's lead of Watford. The Senegal star amazed fans at Anfield with his backheel finish on Wednesday night. 5 Sadio Mane scored an outrageous backheel against Watford Credit: Reuters 5 Sadio Mane's sublime skill stunned Anfield on Wednesday night Credit: Reuters Mane took a poor first touch from Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross, but more than made up for it with his second. The 26-year-old had his back to goal from 12 yards out, so tried an audacious backheel in the 20th minute. Mane's effort was past Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster before he could even react. It was Mane's second goal of the night having opened the Reds' account in the ninth minute. Mane was far from his best in the 0-0 draw at Manchester United on Sunday. Sadio Mane scoring that goal like 😎😎😎 pic.twitter.com/PyIT46hPIM — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 27, 2019 Man, it’s Mane at the double with a cunning backheel. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) February 27, 2019 8 - Sadio Mane has had a hand in eight goals just five Premier League games against Watford for Liverpool (5 goals, 3 assists). Buzzing. #LIVWAT pic.twitter.com/Gn5zTQShPc — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2019 5 Sadio Mane took a poor first touch but that set him up for this Credit: Reuters 5 Ben Foster could not react in time for Sadio Mane's stunning effort Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Sadio Mane celebrates with Divock Origi after his first-half double Credit: Getty Images - Getty But the striker more than made up for it with his first-half display at Anfield on Wednesday night. Mane has scored five Premier League goals against Watford and also has three assists against them. Liverpool entered the game one point ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table with 11 games to go.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign upfor the latest MUFC breaking news and transfer updates The Senegal international was leading the line in the absence of Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian forward rolled his ankle in the Old Trafford turf during Sunday’s stalemate. Divock Origi came into the starting line up while Mane played through the middle as a striker. And Mane did not disappoint.<doc-sep>To revive an old and unfulfilled prophecy of Gérard Houllier’s, Liverpool truly are 10 games from greatness. They have faltered recently and lost their attacking verve along the route but, far from feeling the pressure of the title race, they revelled in it against Watford on Wednesday night. The Premier League leaders were insatiable, unstoppable and clinical as they recorded the biggest victory of what Jürgen Klopp hopes will be the breakthrough season for his club. The Liverpool manager gave an Oscar-winner’s speech, eulogising all those who had made the victory possible and acknowledging he may have forgotten somebody. It was a lengthy list. Mohamed Salah was “unplayable” according to Klopp. Trent Alexander‑Arnold “brilliant” as he returned to the side with vengeance plus a hat-trick of inch-perfect assists. Fabinho appeared to run central midfield single-handedly, although that does a disservice to those around him. Sadio Mané scored twice, the second an audacious and glorious finish, as did Virgil van Dijk with two towering late headers. Divock Origi chipped in with a fine goal as he replaced Roberto Firmino. Strength in depth, a clean sheet and a rampant team brushing aside a side in “best of the rest” territory before kick-off. It was a result and performance that blew away creeping suspicions about Liverpool losing their edge and composure just as the season enters its critical phase. It was a result and performance that told Manchester City they will be difficult to dislodge. And it was needed. Three draws in the previous four league games demanded a reaction, despite Klopp’s claim it is growing expectation that afflicts Liverpool, and another heavy defeat of Watford – who have lost here 5-0, 5-0 and 6-1 on their past three visits – was timed as perfectly as it was executed. Klopp sowed doubt in Watford from the start by stationing Origi on the left and handing Mané opportunity to wreak havoc through the centre. It was an invitation he devoured. Other changes from Manchester United on Sunday, James Milner returning to midfield and Alexander-Arnold recalled at right-back, were also key in extending Liverpool’s unbeaten league run here to a commanding 35 games. Quick Guide Premier League title race: the remaining fixtures Show Manchester City (86 points) 24 Apr Man Utd (a) 28 Apr Burnley (a) 4 May Leicester (h) 12 May Brighton (a) Liverpool (85 points) 21 Apr Cardiff (a) 26 Apr Huddersfield (h) 5 May Newcastle (a) 12 May Wolves (h) Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. Milner signalled the kind of night that lay in store for the visitors when he charged down an early clearance from Ben Foster. The Watford goalkeeper escaped on that occasion, the ball looping into the air and his embrace, but was convincingly beaten when a carefully constructed attack released Mané for the first time. Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates scoring his second of the night. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images He was involved at the start of the move with a lay-off to Milner on the edge of the area. By the time the ball arrived in the box via an immaculate first time cross from Alexander-Arnold, the Senegal international had peeled into space between Watford’s central defenders. Foster was left waving at thin air as Mané’s powerful header flew into the top corner. Quality deliveries from Alexander-Arnold were a feature of Liverpool’s first-half dominance as the defender showed his manager what was lacking at Old Trafford. Salah’s tormenting of Adam Masina and Craig Cathcart was another. Both played their part in a second goal of impudent class from Mané. The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. A strong run from Salah was halted inside the area but Liverpool remained in possession through Georginio Wijnaldum. He teed up Alexander-Arnold for another precision cross into Mané whose first touch shifted the ball away from goal. No bother. He simply back-heeled his second touch up and over the advancing Foster and into an empty net. The gasp that preceded the roar around the ground said everything about the finish. Fear stalked the Watford defence each time Salah received the ball in space, a lesson they failed to heed from United’s approach at Old Trafford. The paucity of the visitors’ attacking display was summed up by Javi Gracia withdrawing both of his forwards, Troy Deeney and the erratic Gerard Deulofeu, in a double substitution. Inevitably, it was Liverpool who struck again when Origi capped a promising return to the starting line-up with a fine finish. Andy Robertson found the striker lurking unmarked on the left wing with Watford defending deep and in numbers. Undeterred, the Belgium international darted into the area and away from two defenders before cutting a low and emphatic shot back inside Foster’s near post. Van Dijk made it four when he powered home a close range header from Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick. He celebrated his second goal at Anfield with a fist-pumping celebration in front of the Kop and followed that up with a glancing header past Foster from Robertson’s cross three minutes later.<doc-sep>
Sadio Mane was given the coveted centre-forward role as Liverpool welcomed Watford to Anfield. The Senegalese has usually operated on the left or right of a front three this season but was played through the middle against the Hornets in the absence of the injured Roberto Firmino. Here, Press Association Sport assesses the contribution of the former Southampton forward. Role When Jurgen Klopp selected Divock Origi to replace Firmino, ruled out because of an ankle injury he sustained in Sunday’s goalless draw at Manchester United, it was anticipated the switch would be a like-for-like replacement. Instead, Mane was given an opportunity to take centre stage as Origi was pushed out onto the left and Mohamed Salah was deployed in his normal position on the right channel. Threat If there were any concerns about how Mane would fare in a new role they were quickly extinguished within nine minutes, when the 26-year-old rose high to head home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inch-perfect cross. The goal ensured Mane has now scored in each of Liverpool’s last five home matches. More was to follow, though, as 11 minutes later he collected another dangerous Alexander-Arnold ball into the area and, with his back to goal, sent an audacious back heel over flummoxed Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster and into the net for his and Liverpool’s second goal of the night. Link-up play Much of Liverpool’s early attacking play was concentrated down the right side through Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, and the pair’s industry allowed Mane to come to the fore. Mane, while content to put in the hard yards, occasionally lost his positional sense after the interval, dropping too deep into midfield or out wide, although he worked well alongside Origi and Salah to ensure Firmino’s absence was not missed too much. Overall Liverpool had drawn four of their last five matches in all competitions coming into this fixture but Mane’s early brace went a long way to settling any nerves that were around Anfield at kick-off. His double took him to 14 Premier League goals for the campaign – overhauling his previous best of 13 in the English top-flight, which he amassed in the 2016/17 season, his first in Liverpool colours. While this was not a flawless display, he was deservedly given a rapturous ovation when he was withdrawn with 12 minutes to go. PA Media