Salernitana 0-5 Inter: Player ratings as Nerazzurri ease to thumping win

Inter stretched their lead at the top of Serie A to four points on Friday night as goals from Ivan Perisic, Denzel Dumfries, Alexis Sanchez, Lautaro Martinez and Roberto Gagliardini helped them ease past Salernitana.

Perisic got the ball rolling, rising highest to nod in Hakan Calhanoglu's corner for his fourth league goal of the season.

Former Inter man Joel Obi nearly grabbed an equaliser for Salernitana but was denied by Samir Handanovic before the visitors doubled their lead through Dumfries, who smacked the ball off the crossbar and just over the line from Edin Dzeko's pass.

The game as a contest was done when Inter netted a terrific third on the counter, ending with Calhanoglu setting up Sanchez, who fired back across goal into the far corner.

Substitute Martinez got the fourth, picking up the scraps in the hosts' area to fire beyond Vincenzo Fiorillo, before Gagliardini - another replacement - put the seal on an emphatic victory for Simone Inzaghi's side when he slid into the far corner.

The win was Inter's eighth in their last nine league games, continuing their title defence in fine fashion ahead of the fixture between two of their rivals - AC Milan and Napoli - at the top of the table on Sunday night.

Salernitana continue to struggle in Serie A, sitting bottom of the league having won just two games so far this season.

Inter player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Samir Handanovic (GK) - 7/10 - Good sliding save to deny Obi an equaliser. Only had two saves to make throughout the game.

Danilo D'Ambrosio (CB) - 7/10 - Snipped the woodwork with a strike just after half time. Cool and composed, often recovering loose balls for his side.

Stefan de Vrij (CB) - 7/10 - Wasn't totally dominant in the air but rarely looked flustered, with Salernitana never really threatening.

Alessandro Bastoni (CB) - 7/10 - Happy bringing the ball out of defence and was diligent with his passing. Made three recoveries and didn't lose a duel before coming off.

2. Midfielders & wing backs

Denzel Dumfries (RW) - 9/10 - Should have scored from Sanchez's through ball but sent it just wide of the post. Did get on the scoresheet with a thunderous effort that crashed off the bar and over the line. Looked a massive threat.

Nicolo Barella (CM) - 6/10 - Put himself about and got booked in the 18th minute for a badly timed challenge on Riccardo Gagliolo. Decent chance to hit the target from the edge of the box but got it horribly wrong. A bit more erratic than he usually is.

Marcelo Brozovic (CM) - 8/10 - Was the pass master in the middle of the pitch, rarely losing possession for his side. Combative and won plenty of tackles. Very good.

Hakan Calhanoglu (CM) - 9/10 - Great set piece delivery set up Perisic's header. Perfectly weighted pass put Sanchez through on goal. Is in wonderful form right now and this was another excellent showing.

Ivan Perisic (LWB) - 7/10 - Got up well to meet Calhanoglu's corner for the opener. Inter created space for him and he was a big danger up the wing.

3. Forwards

Alexis Sanchez (ST) - 7/10 - Butchered a counter attack with a poor pass to Dzeko. Took his goal really nicely and played some nice passes throughout before being subbed off.

Edin Dzeko (ST) - 7/10 - Looked for a penalty early on as he was bundled over, but nothing was given. Sent a header from Perisic's cross just wide. His pass to Dumfries for the second goal was perfectly weighted. Inexplicably missed a header from point blank range.

4. Substitutes

Arturo Vidal (CM) - 6/10

Federico Dimarco (CB) - 6/10

Lautaro Martinez (ST) - 7/10 - In the right place to lash in the loose ball for Inter's fourth, and his sixth Serie A goal in his last five games.

Roberto Gagliardini (CM) - 7/10 - Did well in the build-up to Martinez's strike. Got on the scoresheet himself with a cool finish.

Aleksandar Kolarov (LWB) - N/A

For more from Jude Summerfield, follow him on Twitter!