Watford manager Javi Gracia said his side deserve support following their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of league leaders Liverpool, after playing at what he believes has been a consistently high standard throughout the season.

However, the truth is the Hornets were a far cry from their best on Merseyside and made life easy for an impressive Liverpool side.

Here’s how we rated their individual performances:

Ben Foster – 6

The reliable goalkeeper produced several important stops once again and without him the scoreline could have been more embarrassing.

However, he will be disappointed to have conceded the second goal from a backheel and to have been beaten at his near post for the third. His defenders didn’t help him out as much as they could, however.

Daryl Janmaat – 6

The Dutch fullback has impressed in Kiko Femenia’s absence and he was one of a few players who seemed to have any urgency in attack.

At the other end his defending left a bit to be desired and he could have done much better to prevent crosses from Andrew Robertson, which were a constant source of problems for Watford throughout.

Craig Cathcart – 5

For a team to concede five goals is bad enough, but when four of those goals come from the same source, it’s a clear sign that the defenders aren’t learning from their mistakes.

Time after time the centre backs failed to deal with Liverpool’s balls in from the flanks and Cathcart regularly lost his man in the area in a game where he wasn’t up to his usual level.

Adrian Mariappa - 5

Another who struggled to adapt in order to deal with Liverpool’s attacking threat was Mariappa.

Virgil Van Dijk brushed the defender off with ease twice to get his goals, while Sadio Mane was given the freedom of the Watford Defence to give the reds the perfect start.

Mariappa is one of a few who made life very comfortable for the hosts.

Adam Masina - 4

Of all the players in the Watford backline, Masina was the most accommodating, as he failed to keep up with Liverpool’s pace and intensity.

He looked like he was running through treacle at times as he tried to keep up with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah and his inability to defend crosses gifted the hosts chance after chance.

Will Hughes – 7

A rare source of creativity and threat came from Hughes, who looked composed on the odd occasion he got the ball. He also slipped a decent pass into the path of Andre Gray for one of Watford’s few real chances.

He worked hard off the ball, but Liverpool’s dominance meant that he could not prevent the rout.

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 6

Another who worked fairly hard was Doucoure, but the Liverpool midfielders controlled the centre of the park and regularly caused Watford to lose their shape.

Defensively, he could have offered more, with the Frenchman partially at fault for both the second and third goals.

Etienne Capoue – 5

Capoue cut a frustrated figure in the centre of the park as he failed to get to grips with the intensity of the match.

He regularly misplaced passes and offered little in support defensively. An off night for a player who is usually so dominant in the centre of the park.

Roberto Pereyra – 4

Whether or not Pereyra was still suffering from a recent injury is not clear, but going forward he created little and defensively he offered no support to the struggling Adam Masina.

He desperately needs to rediscover his impressive form from the start of the season.

Gerard Deulofeu – 6

Off the back of his hat-trick against Cardiff, Deulofeu looked confident going forward but he failed to produce any of the flashes of brilliance the Hornets’ fans know he is capable of.

His decision making was baffling at times, including the choice to throw himself to the ground in the first half to try and win a free kick.

Troy Deeney – 6

The skipper’s performance was typically spirited and he tussled with defenders in the manner in which can be expected.

However, he missed one of Watford’s clearest opportunities just before half time and never really recovered from it. He looked annoyed with himself when he was taken off midway through the second half.

SUBS:

Andre Gray – 7

Gray offered something that had been distinctly lacking in the game for Watford – an outlet.

He got in behind the Liverpool defenders on more than one occasion and almost set up a nervy end to the game. All that was lacking from the striker was an end product.

Tom Cleverley – 5

After joining the game, Cleverley quickly became anonymous and offered little that wasn’t already on show before. 

Ken Sema – N/A

Joined the game too late to make a real impact.