European champions Liverpool made an emphatic start to the new Premier League season by handing promoted Norwich City a 4-1 thrashing at Anfield.
Juergen Klopp's side swept aside fellow German Daniel Farke's team with their trademark attacking verve, taking a 3-0 lead inside 28 minutes.
The unfortunate Grant Hanley scored an own goal before Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi netted before halftime, with Norwich scoring through Teemu Pukki just after the hour.
The only setback for Klopp on an encouraging night came with an injury to Brazilian keeper Alisson Becker who was taken off in the 39th after suffering what appeared to be a calf injury.
Becker's misfortune handed an unexpectedly early debut to Spanish keeper Adrian, who had been, prudently, signed as cover on a free transfer just four days previously.
Liverpool's achievement of winning their sixth European title by beating Tottenham Hotspur in May's Champions League final in Madrid, was celebrated in song and choreographed displays by their supporters before the game.
For one of the unlikely heroes of that campaign, Belgian forward Origi, there was the reward of a starting place ahead of Sadio Mane, while Joe Gomez was preferred to Joel Matip alongside Van Dijk at the back.
Reuters
