Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk each scored twice as Liverpool thrashed Watford 5-0 to maintain their one-point advantage over Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

Mane ensured it was not going to be a nervy night at Anfield by scoring twice in the first 20 minutes, including a spectacular backheel for his second.

Divock Origi added a third in the second half before Dutch centre-back Van Dijk headed two goals in the final 10 minutes.

It was a strong statement of intent from a team who had drawn four of their last five games, but who have genuine hope of becoming English champions for the first time since 1990.

As they sought to maintain the Premier League leadership, Liverpool’s main concern was finding a way to overcome the absence of Roberto Firmino because of an ankle injury.

Klopp’s solution to the problem was to reshuffle his three-man forward line, with Mane moving to the centre, and Divock Origi coming in on the left for only his second Premier League start of the season.

It was a move that paid off quickly for Liverpool as only nine minutes in Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a fine cross for Mane to climb between Craig Cathcart and Adrian Mariappa to head in.

Another Alexander-Arnold cross led to the second as Mane reacted brilliantly after a poor first touch by backheeling the ball over the advancing Ben Foster in the Watford goal.

Confidence restored, Liverpool looked back in the groove and one passage of play, in the closing 10 minutes of the first half, had Watford barely able to keep up.