Liverpool 4 Norwich 1: Salah, Van Dijk and Origi on target but Alisson injury ruins easy win for Klopp’s side

THEY are champions of Europe.

At times Liverpool, chasing a first league title in three decades, played like champions of England.

11

They want this thing, opening up the Premier League season with a thumping victory over promoted Norwich.

It was all sorted out after 42 minutes, when Divock Origi nodded Liverpool’s fourth beyond stranded Canaries keeper Tim Krul.

Teemu Pukki’s consolation, sweetly finished beyond the Reds' substitute keeper Adrian, was a footnote in another crushing victory for Jurgen Klopp's players.

This was their night, as usual.

The thirst, the appetite to lift the curse and finally win the title, remains.

Once Klopp’s players got into their stride they were relentless, picking off these wide-eyed Norwich players at will.

They did not even play at full pelt.

After taking the lead, with Grant Hanley’s pitiful clearance sliced beyond Tim Krul seven minutes in to the season, they never let up.

Krul will have a busy year.

Norwich’s keeper was beaten three more times before the break, with Salah, VVD and Divock Origi all adding to the scoreline.

11

11

11

11

Norwich fans, their eyes out on stalks, will try to tell you they were in this, that it could have all turned out very different if Marco Stieperman had scored either of his early chances.

His second effort, taken so eagerly that he shovelled the chance to equalise wildly over Alisson’s bar, was poor.

Respect to Norwich for staying true to their passing principles, but they will concede hundreds of goals.

Those ardent Canaries fans, still giddy after they won the Championship last season, will fear the worst.

Liverpool meted out some heavy treatment, scoring again when Salah got the ball from under his feet to beat Krul.

Roberto Firmino made the clever delayed pass, giving Salah time to wriggle clear before picking his spot.

More were on the way.

The third was embarrassing, with Norwich defender Jamal Lewis brutally exposed by the power and authority of van Dijk at this level.

Salah pinged in a left-footed corner and van Dijk grinding his toes deep into the playing surface to give him the footings to power a header beyond Krul.

Lewis, highly-regarded by Norwich, got a Premier League lesson out there.

11

11

11

So did his team-mates because they looked like they had been put through a washing machine spin cycle in that first half.

Krul finally did make a save, from Firmino after half an hour, before the Kop roared once more.

Origi got it, reading Trent Aleander-Arnold’s fading crossfield pass from the right to steer his header beyond the hapless Norwich keeper.

By then Liverpool were on to their second keeper of the night after Alisson damaged his knee eight minutes before the break.

He has had a busy summer, what with his Copa America success with Brazil following up on the Champions League.

The poor fella has barely put his feet up, but the pressure on the best players is always to play.

He lasted 37 minutes, but was replaced by former West Ham keeper Adrian for the next 63.

The Kop gave him a traditional warm, welcoming reception.

They were in a good mood by then because their team was 3-0 up and hungry for many more.

After a delayed start to the second half, caused by static on the VAR system adopted by officials in the Premier League this season, they were chasing a fifth.

11

11

Captain Jordan Henderson hit the bar and Salah was denied a second before they called it quits.

There has been criticism of Liverpool’s sleepy defence in pre-season, with former defender Jamie Carragher highlighting some of their deficiencies.

Maybe he has a point because Van Dijk was dishing out the verbals to Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson when Pukki scored.

Emiliano Buendia created it, carving out the chance for Pukki to give those poor Norwich fans something to celebrate.

Pukki looked a decent player when he scored 29 times in the Championship-winning season.

Against Liverpool, when the chance presented itself after 64 minutes, he opened up his Premier League account.

The defensive lapse will not please Klopp, but Liverpool are conserving energy for the bigger challenges ahead.

Another of them is on Wednesday, when they can pick up their first piece of silverware in the Super Cup against Chelsea in Istanbul.

This is a good start for Liverpool, picking up the pace on the opening weekend of the season with a convincing victory at Anfield.

With Manchester City readying themselves for today’s clash at West Ham, Klopp’s players did their bit by getting off to a solid start.

Over to you, Pep.

11