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Liverpool started their 2021-22 Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road. Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah all scored for the visitors as the Canaries were served a baptism of fire on their top-flight return.
Unlike in the same fixture on the first day of the 2019-20 season, the Reds didn't get off to a flyer. Jota did display his poacher's instincts by slamming the ball home after finding a gap in the Norwich defence.
Firmino came off the bench in the second half and doubled Liverpool's advantage. But it was all about Salah, who showed superb technique and vision to find his teammate after getting in behind the Norwich City defence.
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He then proceeded to add a goal of his own, a thumping volley from outside the box, to add gloss to the scoreline.
Eventually, the Canaries succumbed to a heavy defeat, but they did put up a fight, especially in the first half. On that note, here are the five key talking points from the match:
#1 Mohamed Salah loves opening-day fixtures
With a goal against Norwich City, Mohamed Salah created history. He became the first-ever player to net in five consecutive opening-day fixtures in the Premier League.
The run started with a goal on his league debut in 2017 against Watford. Salah has not looked back since then, scoring against West Ham, Norwich, Leeds United (a hat-trick) and Norwich again.
On the first two occasions he did so, he ended up with the Golden Boot. So could the Egyptian ace's strike on Saturday spark another prolific season? He certainly looks ready for it.
#2 Virgil Van Dijk returns for Liverpool with a bang
After sitting out for ten months with a ligament injury, Virgil van Dijk returned to Liverpool's XI. The Dutchman exuded his trademark composure on the ball, and turned in a performance that has made him the star he is today.
He kept Norwich's talismanic striker Teemu Pukki in check, and didn't give him a chance in aerial duels too. Van Dijk also made four clearances in the match.
In his first game back in the side, the 30-year-old has reminded the Reds what they missed all this while. If this performance is anything to go by, Van Dijk seems ready to take the new season by storm. Onwards and upwards.
#3 Norwich City to uphold their 'yo-yo club' tag?
No club in recent history has drifted between the Premier League and the Championship quite like Norwich City. They are back again in the top flight after a year in the second division.
Much like on their 2019 return, the Canaries played Liverpool in their first match. But this time, it was at their home ground, and not Anfield, where they were dealt a 4-1 battering.
However, that mattered not, as Norwich suffered a heavy defeat although their performance showed a stark improvement this time. Daniel Farke's team played with the confidence and courage they sorely lacked, two years ago.
Liverpool's new recruit Kostas Tsimikas, who has come in for the injured Andrew Robertson, left plenty of gaps on the left flank. He also looked off the pace, something which the hosts looked to exploit.
Despite the scoreline, it wasn't all doom and gloom for Norwich, who could ensure survival this year if they're able to maintain this form against the 'smaller' teams.
#4 Diego Jota produces the goods for Liverpool
In the opening half of the match, Diogo Jota had the fewest touches on the ball of any player on the field. Yet, he was the only one on target in that period.
That tells you everything about how lethal he can be when space opens up. The Portuguese striker latched onto a loose ball off Salah and exploited a gap in the Norwich defence before rifling home a low drive to put the Reds in front.
While it's a good start to his campaign, Jota ought to get more involved in the proceedings, because such opportunities may be a rarity against the big sides.
Jota's arrival from Wolves last year helped ease some of the burden off Liverpool's famous triumvirate, but he sustained a serious injury that curtailed his campaign.
But now that Jota is back in form, he should provide tough competition for places in the starting XI. Considering that he's still only 24 and much younger than Salah, Mane and Firmino, he has a distinct advantage.
#5 Liverpool could be title challengers again
Any talk of who's likely to win the Premier League this season would invariably revolve around Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.
City, the defending champions, have won three of the last four editions of the league; Chelsea are the reigning European champions. Meanwhile, Manchester United have made some good recruitments this summer and recorded the biggest win of the opening day so far.
There's no mention of Liverpool whatsoever. Why? Because they didn't make any major signings? Because of their limp title defence last season? No matter which way you look at it, their resounding victory over Norwich showed the Reds look very likely to repeat their 2019-20 league triumph this season.
Their attacking line-up was on fire; Roberto Firmino looked rejuvenated; Van Dijk made a strong return to action, and Trent Alexander-Arnold also sizzled. Write the Reds off at your own peril.
