With inputs from Associated Press

Thanks to a goal and two assists from Mohamed Salah, Liverpool registered a comfortable 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Norwich City on Saturday in their opening fixture in the 2021/22 season of the English Premier League. 

With centre-back Virgil van Dijk back in the lineup after a long spell on the sidelines last season, the Reds backline looked solid. Although Liverpool missed their left-back Andrew Robertson, 25-year-old Konstantinos Tsimikas chipped in at the spot.

Two seasons ago, Jurgen Klopp’s side beat the same opponents 4-1 at Anfield on the opening weekend and, by the end of the season, Norwich finished at the bottom of the table. Yet again, Daniel Farke’s side suffered a similar fate on the opening day.

The hosts were in a celebratory mood ahead of kickoff after clinching the second-tier Championship title in May, but Jurgen Klopp’s team showed its class with Diogo Jota breaking the deadlock in the first half after a slight touch by Salah.

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Substitute Roberto Firmino doubled the advantage not long after coming on following a square ball from Salah, who wrapped up an impressive first showing from the Reds with a record-breaking strike high into the net. Salah became the first player to score in five consecutive opening weekends of the Premier League season.

Fans were able to sell out Carrow Road for the first time in 18 months and the Canaries were also back in the Premier League having been relegated and then promoted again during the ensuing period.

Norwich had also posed questions and Teemu Pukki called Alisson Becker into action with a near-post strike but it was not long before Liverpool opened its account for the season in the 26th minute.

Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a trademark cross and while Salah’s touch appeared to be designed to create an opportunity for himself, it split Norwich’s two centre-backs Ben Gibson and Grant Hanley perfectly and Jota did not need a second invitation to rifle past Krul from 12 meters.

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It was almost 2-0 eight minutes later but Pierre Lees-Melou, one of three debutants for the hosts, was able to clear Joel Matip’s goalbound effort after his block from Salah’s volley had contributed toward Krul’s goal being vacated.

Norwich did not lack effort but had no answer to the quality of the visitors and Alisson even denied the team a consolation during the final exchanges with a superb save to deny Gibson.