Rampant Reds start season in style

Liverpool began the 2019/20 Premier League season with a convincing 4-1 win over newly-promoted Norwich City at Anfield. 

A blistering four-goal salvo in the first period effectively ended the contest: Norwich captain Grant Hanley netting the first top flight goal of the season with an own goal before Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi put the game out of the Canaries' reach.

Daniel Farke's plucky Norwich side responded well in the second half, striker Teemu Pukki netting a consolation for the Canaries after the break. 

One concern for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was an injury to goalkeeper Alisson, who slipped while taking a first-half goal kick and was replaced between the sticks by new signing Adrian.

To counterbalance Alisson's misfortune, English defender Joe Gomez came through his first league game of 2019 for the Reds following a spell on the sidelines due to a fractured leg.

The @premierleague is back!! 🔥
3 big points to the start the season with! Lots to continue to work on but we have a great platform to build on now. See you all in Istanbul! 😁 pic.twitter.com/LLVQtAEhJF

— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) August 10, 2019

Post-match opinion

After the game, Klopp praised his own side and Norwich: 

"For 60 minutes we looked very sharp, then we have to control the game a bit more. Norwich have all my respect - they stayed cheeky, they enjoyed their football," he said. 

"At the start of the second half we could have scored a fifth or sixth goal, then Norwich scored. After that we were never in danger but had to work hard to keep the score what it was," Klopp added.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke, meanwhile, remained positive despite the defeat.  

"We're disappointed. We were greedy, we wanted to be the first team in two-and-a-half years to win here.

"But I'm totally in love with this team. The mentality to win the second half in front of an excited home crowd, we showed great character."