Liverpool roused to a second-half onslaught to run out 3-0 winners at Watford.

A well-worked move between Roberto Firmino ane Sadio Mane allowed Mohamed Salah to break the deadlock in the 67th minute at Vicarage Road.

Trent Alexander-Arnold followed up the Reds’ opener with a spectacular 30-yard free kick which left that Ben Foster rooted to the spot as the ball hit the net.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Jordan Henderson was dismissed for a second bookable offence of the afternoon.

Firmino further consolidated the victory with an 89th minute header to maintain Liverpool’s unbeaten start to their Premier League season after 13 matches.

Here were the key talking points from Vicarage Road:

Henderson loss is a blessing in disguise

 

 

Losing a Liverpool captain before a Merseyside derby was previously unthinkable.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side might actually be richer for Jordan Henderson’s absence after he picked up successive bookings in the space of just three minutes.

Just like his last dismissal in a Premier League game, in 2014, the midfielder went for a needlessly rash approach with his side in a winning position.

News of Henderson’s suspension for next weekend’s Anfield showdown will have been greeted with contrasting emotions on both sides of Stanley Park.

It is noticeable that Everton fans are more concerned by his ineligibility than those of his own team, many of whom see it Liverpool’s blessing in disguise.

Trent going from strength to strength

 

Sometimes it is easy to forget that Trent Alexander-Arnold is still only 20 years old.

He is already a first-team starter for Liverpool and a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England setup before considering his Golden Boy Award nomination.

A stunning 30-yard free kick to double his side’s advantage at Vicarage Road will only serve to further enhance the right-back’s increasingly promising reputation.

This is by no means the finished article, and Klopp’s relentless demands will see more expected of him in providing attacking options from his preferred flank.

But there can be no doubt that Alexander-Arnold possesses all the necessary qualities to establish himself for club and country for many years to come.

Reds’ attack starting to click again

 

Much has been made of the apparent stumbling in Liverpool’s attack and a lack of interplay between Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Even with a first half that didn’t have a shot on target for almost 35 minutes however, the front three showed signs that understanding is now returning.

Firmino may have had his best game for a while, capped off by a header which put a footnote on the win while providing connections with the players around him.

The Brazilian even found space to display a glorious piece of skill in the middle of pitch to nutmeg a Watford player as he appeared to find himself cornered.

In both halves, the front three and Xherdan Shaqiri showed positive moments in attempting to exploit rare gaps in the hosts’ otherwise stubborn defence.

That pressure eventually told and a renewed relationship between Europe’s most prolific forward line in the last 12 months will continue to bring more goals to the table.

Shuffle shows Klopp’s belated backup

 

In recent seasons a criticism of the Liverpool squad had been the lack of depth, the constant reliance on the first XI with the lack of alternatives from the bench.

Klopp has experienced it througout his three years in the managerial hot seat but its origins could arguably be traced back to several of his recent predecessors.

But Dejan Lovren’s return to the starting line-up after Joe Gomez returned from England duty with a knock appears to have heralded a turning point at Anfield.

Anexperienced international who played in Champions League and World Cup finals acting as cover for Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back is an indication of how far this squad has progressed in recent times.