LIVERPOOL — Claudio Ranieri won his first victory as Watford manager when Josh King scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 thrashing at Everton in Saturday’s Premier League.
Watford’s victory over Liverpool, which was 5-0, last weekend in Ranieri’s first game as manager, is a sign of the potential impact that the 70-year old Italian may already have on the club.
After Everton’s humiliating defeat under Rafa Benitez (the team’s new manager), the final whistle was met by loud cheers from Everton supporters. Some fans were upset at Benitez’s links to Liverpool.
Everton conceded four goals at Goodison Park in the 78th minute. This was a horrible end to a match that started well for Tom Davies’s goal in the third minute.
King scored in the 13th to equalize his first goal for Everton, but Richarlison (a former Watford player) reclaimed the lead for Everton in the 63rd with a header — three minutes after being substituted after an injury spell.
After Juraj Kucka’s header, Watford were level in the 78th. King scored in the 80th minute and 86th to complete his hat-trick, while Emmanuel Dennis added a fifth in stoppage time.
