Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool vs Watford - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - March 17, 2018 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their fourth goal REUTERS
Egypt's free-scoring winger Mohamed Salah set another Liverpool record after scoring four goals for the Reds in a 5-0 Premier League win over Watford on Saturday.
The effervescent forward's glorious night saw him become Liverpool's most prolific player in a debut season, having taken his tally to 36 goals in all competitions.
He surpassed Spanish striker Fernando Torres, who netted 33 goals in his debut season with Liverpool in 2007-08.
Salah also went four goals clear of Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who is out through injury, on top of the Premier League's scoring charts with 28.
The 25-year-old is just one goal short of equaling Didier Drogba's record for the most goals by an African player in a Premier League season. The former Ivory Coast hitman netted 29 goals in 2009-10.
Salah is also the first Liverpool player to score four goals in a Premier League game since Luis Suarez against Norwich in December 2013.
"I have to thank every one of my teammates, without them I couldn't have reached these numbers," he told BT Sport in a pitchside interview.
"Each game we try to get the three points, that's the most important thing, but every game I want to score, I want to help the team."
The unstoppable Egyptian needed only four minutes to put his side in front and he doubled his tally just before halftime.
He set up Roberto Firmino for a cheeky effort early in the second half before placing a shot through a crowd of Watford defenders to complete his first Liverpool hat-trick.
There was no respite for Watford at a snowy Anfield as Salah smashed in his fourth goal in the 85th minute.
Liverpool have 63 points from 31 games, two more than Tottenham Hotspur who have 61 from 30. More importantly they are now seven points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea in the tussle for the top four and Champions League qualification.
Watford had decent spells in the first half and Roberto Pereyra did strike the crossbar with a second-half free kick but they were easy pickings for Juergen Klopp's slick side.
Defeat left Watford in 11th spot, a comfortable eight points above the relegation zone.
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