Watford boss Javi Gracia has declared Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah "on the same level" as Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Gracia made the claim after Salah's four goal haul in Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of Watford.

"Salah is not the same as Messi," Gracia, who has experience of managing in La Liga against Barcelona's little genius, explained.

"But in this moment, yes they are on the same level. They are different types of forwards, but both are equally dangerous. You can do everything right in your defence, and in one moment you are lost.

"Players like Messi and Salah, they make decisions, and they decide games.

"It doesn't matter about your shape, your plan, or your work. A player like that can change it in an instant. That is what happened with Salah."

Reds captain Jordan Henderson also revealed: "He has been unbelievable.

"Absolutely unbelievable.He is doing it every week, without fail. We all signed his ball after the game. I just kept it simple and wrote, 'Well done, superstar'."