Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign with a 3-0 win over Norwich

Liverpool started their Premier League campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday night. Diogo Jota started the scoring for the Reds before Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah netted in the second half to seal the three points. Jurgen Klopp handed the first competitive start to Virgil van Dijk in 10 months since damaging his anterior cruciate ligament of right knee in October. Meanwhile Salah has now scored on five successive opening weekends of the Premier League season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side quickly settled in and made their test the Norwinch defence within 10 minutes. Konstantinos Tsimikas showed some good footwork to past two Norwich players and delivered a teasing cross to the penalty area but the centre-back was aware to clear the ball. But the subsequent corner fell to Keita on the edge of the box, whose chipped pass was headed towards goal by Jota only to be tipped over the crossbar by Krul. And then Salah’s shot went straight to the goalkeeper.

Meanwhile at the other end Teemu Pukki ran in behind Van Dijk to latch onto a Todd Cantwell pass but the Finland international’s shot was comfortably kept out by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker at the near post.

Salah’s attempt to control right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross unknowingly went through two defenders and into the path of Jota inside the penalty box  and the Portuguese slotted the ball past Krul to take the lead in the 25th minute.

Liverpool dominant after the break

The Reds continued from where they had left off in the first half. Sadio Mane’s initial attempt was blocked by Max Aarons but the ball fell to Salah inside the box. The Egyptian squared the ball to substitute Firmino, who drilled the ball past the Dutchman to extend the lead.

In the 73rd minute, Norwich’s clearing header from a corner fell to Salah at the edge of the box. The striker fired in a superb curler to make the score 3-0 for the away side.

Meanwhile at the other end Alisson made three quick saves to keep a clean sheet. Ben Gibson got on the end of a superb cross by Pierre Lees- Melou from the left flank. However, the Brazilian goalkeeper made a brilliant save from close range.

It was a comprehensive performance for the Reds and with the return of Van Dijk they looked more assured at the back. And Klopp’s side once again looks like genuine title contenders after the opening day victory.

Salah, Mane, Firmino and Jota were once again brilliant up front but Van Dijk’s absence was one of the main reasons they could not challenge for the title last season, but this around, the Dutch defender is back and looks in good form.