Norwich 0-3 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah shines in a perfect start for the Reds, providing assists for Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino before scoring himself... and Virgil van Dijk plays all 90 minutes!
- Liverpool opened their Premier League title bid with a comfortable 3-0 victory away against Norwich
- Mo Salah produced a magnificent performance with two assists before a stunning strike for Liverpool's third
- Diogo Jota opened the scoring for the Reds in the first-half after slotting away following Salah's touch to him
- Roberto Firmino started on the bench but scored within five minutes to tap home an easy finish for Liverpool
- Virgil van Dijk made his return to the starting line-up and managed to play all 90 minutes against the Canaries
There would have been a moment on Friday night at Liverpool’s team hotel when Jurgen Klopp quietly considered what would make a perfect opening day.
He would have hoped, first and foremost, for three points. Next on the list would have been to see Virgil van Dijk come through his first appearance since October 17; then Klopp would have thought about the prospect of his strikers clicking into gear and signs that Trent Alexander-Arnold was over the injury that ruined his summer.
After that, Liverpool’s manager would have given thought to a clean sheet to gloss the display. Football, as we know, rarely goes how you want it to but, on a stuffy night in East Anglia, Klopp got all that he wished for – and more.

Mo Salah once again made the difference for Liverpool as he provided two assists before scoring a stunning third goal

Virgil van Dijk played all 90 minutes on his Premier League return while Roberto Firmino scored off the bench

It was the perfect start for Jurgen Klopp's side who struggled with injuries last season and are hoping to mount a challenge
For all the hoopla attached to Manchester United’s skewering of Leeds and Chelsea’s ruthless dismissal of Crystal Palace, Liverpool’s 3-0 dismantling of Norwich served as a reminder that it would be folly to not consider them being part of the title race.
While their rivals have spent furiously in recent weeks, Klopp has had to contend with chatter that Liverpool’s decision to be financially prudent will cost him. That viewpoint, nonetheless, does not give consideration to the talent he already has at his disposal.
This squad, when in form, is as good as anything in Europe and they played as if they had a point to prove, almost as if the return of fans had brought them back to life. Norwich put up a valiant show but, in terms of quality, they were in a different county to Liverpool.
The noise and the colour before kick-off was wonderful and the locals turned the town yellow and green; they descended on Carrow Road in their thousands, with a giddy sense of anticipation and totally faith that Daniel Farke could mastermind a command performance.
With all due respect, though, they needed more than giant aspirations to outwit Liverpool and once the early noise began to subside, Klopp’s men began to play with great professionalism and poise; not once did it look like they would break their elegant stride.
It helped, of course, having Van Dijk back in the middle of the defence. While it would be wrong to go over the top about his performance, 301 days since he last appeared in the Premier League, you could not fail to see the difference his presence made.

Diogo Jota opened the scoring after a poor touch from Salah actually set up the Portuguese attacker to slot home

Norwich had their moments in the first half with new-signing Milot Rashica, Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell all lively

Firmino scored within five minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute after a Salah pass from a Liverpool counter

Salah was lively all game and was rewarded for his hard work when he curled home a finish from just inside the penalty area
Liverpool had the confidence be 10 yards further up the field, Van Dijk’s thoughtful use of the ball ensured they always had options and, soon, they began to impose themselves on the contest, quickening the pace and stretching their hosts.
Jota had the first sight of goal, with a header that forced Tim Krul to take urgent action. The Portuguese had been teed up by Naby Keita, a midfielder who has much to prove for Liverpool this season. Credit to the Guinean, he played with the urgency of man who must make up time.
So began a steady stream of chances for Liverpool, who played significantly better than when they won 1-0 here in February 2020 en route to the title: Mo Salah shot straight at Krul in the 18th minute, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admonished himself moments later when failing to get a volley on target.
Though Norwich briefly got their followers excited when Teemu Pukki sprang the offside trap – the Finn could only fire straight at Alisson Becker – you could see it was taking all their effort to swim against a red tide.
Pukki got a sense of that in the 23rd minute when Sadio Mane spun him like a top and crossed to the back post for Salah, whose first time volley whistled wide. The clenching of his teeth and furious running of his hands through his hair showed told you how close it was.
No matter. Salah would be involved in the goal that broke the deadlock. Whether he was trying to cushion Alexander-Arnold’s cross into Jota – or was actually aiming to control it for himself – only he will know but, either way, the deft touch presented Jota with an opening he would not spurn.
Joel Matip was unfortunate not to double Liverpool’s lead in the 34th minute when Pierre Lees-Malou cleared his shot off the line but it was not a miss that would cost his side – all it did was delay the inevitable.
In the second half, Liverpool really went through the gears and they got better and better. Alexander-Arnold, with his wonderful range of passing, was always involved. Van Dijk gained confidence with each passing minute, aided by the unheralded Matip.
Roberto Firmino, on as a substitute, made sure of the points in the 65th minute when calmly finishing a pass from Salah while the Egyptian wrapped things up late on with a left foot drive that was gaining speed as it ripped into the net.
He was smiling, Klopp was smiling, everyone in Red was smiling – and with good reason. Liverpool have emerged powerfully and purposefully from the blocks. Norwich can be thankful they won’t face opponents of this nature every week.

Norwich tried to get in behind Liverpool's high line a few times during the first-half but Van Dijk and Joel Matip defended well

Van Dijk had not played a competitive game since the injury he sustained in the Merseyside Derby against Everton in October

Liverpool's win means they like rivals Manchester United and Chelsea have got their campaigns off to a perfect start

It was a tough day for Norwich on their return to the top flight but their season will be judged on other games this campaign
Follow Sportsmail's KIERAN LYNCH provided live EPL coverage of Norwich vs Liverpool , including build-up, team news and updates.
The whistle goes for full-time and it's the perfect start for Liverpool after goals from Jota, Firmino and Salah.
Norwich had some bright moments in the game but Liverpool's quality well and truly showed.
Liverpool started their Premier League winning campaign in 2019-20 with a win over Norwich and they will be hoping this is the start of their path to doing the same again this campaign.
Rupp has a shot on goal from outside of the box but it goes well over.
At the other end Firmino plays a ball through to Salah who looks like he has a clear shot on goal but he tries to play it back to Mane but a Norwich player intercepts.
He's been accused of being selfish by Mane in the past but he perhaps should have been there!
Elliott plays a 1-2 with Salah before putting in a cross though Hanley is able to clear.
Matip then loses out to Idah and Norwich are back on the attack and have picked the intensity up.
Sargent has a crack on goal but it goes comfortably wide of the far post.
Cantwell is replaced by Kieran Dowell and Norwich have a free-kick for a foul by Tsimikas and they have a chance to whip it into the box.
From the free-kick there's all sorts of confusion in the Liverpool box and somehow Alisson keeps it out!!
The goal was gaping as Gibson couldn't convert and then Hanley couldn't tap it into the net but some brilliant goalkeeping by Alisson.
Norwich's intensity has dropped in since the third goal as it looks like Jurgen Klopp's side are heading for all three points.
Salah's intensity hasn't dropped as he tears into the box somehow wriggling his way through Norwich defenders to get to the by-line before he tries to square it for a teammate but the Canaries eventually clear.
Fabinho sets Salah through down the right-wing who plays the ball back to Keita whose cross evades all those in Red.
Third change for Liverpool meanwhile as teenager Harvey Elliott comes on for Keita after an impressive pre-season.
Cantwell tries to slide in Idah but Matip who like Van Dijk has been solid at the back clears.
Liverpool putting more pressure on the Norwich defence which Gilmour has to step up and help as he concedes a corner.
Alexander-Arnold claps the Liverpool fans before taking a corner which leads to Salah striking over.
Salah shouts in frustration but he has helped his team out with two assists and a goal so far today.
Substitutions for Norwich as Josh Sargent and Adam Idah come on for Pukki and Rashica.
Nervy moment for Alexander-Arnold and Matip at the back here after a ball over the top.
There's a hand in the back of Rashica from the England man who goes down but no penalty is given.
VAR does take a look at it but judges that there was not enough contact.
Liverpool are 3-0 up and it's a brilliant strike from Salah.
A corner from Tsimikas gets headed back to the Egyptian who fires a shot into the top corner and the Reds are comfortable.
It's the fifth opening game of the season in a row for Salah where he has scored for Liverpool.
Norwich on the attack but their final ball lets them down again as Aarons needs to cross it into the box but it goes behind into the feet of Fabinho who is able to clear for Liverpool.
Gibson's pass to Krul is short and the goalkeeper has to burst out of the penalty area to make sure Salah doesn't get on the end of it.
Alexander-Arnold fires a ball through to Salah but Giannoulis defends well.
At the other end Tsimikas has a very casual moment on the ball as he loses possession just outside of his box but luckily for Liverpool a shot is fired over the crossbar.
James Milner screams at the left-back to wake up after nearly providing Norwich with a golden opportunity at a lifeline there.
The goal was coming for Liverpool who have been well under control in this second-half and it didn't take long for Firmino to score after he came on.
Cantwell tries to make something happen but his pass doesn't find his target and Tsimikas is able to safely pass to a teammate.
From one end to the other and it's 2-0 for Liverpool.
Norwich thought they might have had a chance after a mistake from Tsimikas but Keita was able to win the ball.
From there Liverpool work it up-field and it leads to Salah passing to Firmino to tap in for an easy finish.
Good move by Liverpool leads to a save by Krul.
Again it starts with Alexander-Arnold and Salah on the right, before Mane lays the ball off for Tsimikas but the Norwich goalkeeper does well to save low.
Moments later Alexander-Arnold has an ambitious volley from outside the box which goes over.
Firmino and Fabinho get their first touches on the ball and the latter tries to chip a ball in to Mo Salah but Norwich are able to clear.
Two changes for Liverpool as expected as Oxlade-Chamberlain comes off for Fabinho while the goalscorer Jota comes off for Firmino.
Giannoulis puts another ball in to the box and this time it's Van Dijk who clears.
Jurgen Klopp is speaking to Roberto Firmino while Fabinho also looks like he's about to come on.
Giannoulis puts in a cross and Matip puts it behind for a corner.
The corner comes into Gibson and then Lees-Melou who tries a strike on goal but doesn't connect with it well at all and Liverpool eventually clear.
Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to slide in Salah but Giannoulis does well to intercept. Norwich finally get the ball out of their half and the crowd are trying to roar them on to get back into this match.
Norwich having trouble breaking out of their own half as they concede three back-to-back throw-ins right by the corner flag .
Alexander-Arnold tries to put a cross into the box but his aim is not on target as it goes behind for a goal-kick.
Alexander-Arnold takes the free-kick but it's always curling wide.
Giannoulis finds Cantwell on the right but he gives the ball away to Jota.
Jota does well to evade a challenge as he bursts through deep into the Norwich half when a frustrated Cantwell dives in and gives away a free-kick, getting a yellow card for his troubles.
Corner from Tsimikas gets headed out to Oxlade-Chamberlain who doesn't connect with the ball sweetly and then Norwich get a free-kick for a collision involving Matip and Giannoulis.
Dangerous attack by Liverpool as Alexander-Arnold does well to get the ball to Salah who then finds Mane who tries to thread through Jota but Hanley dives in front of the ball.
Moments later Liverpool win a corner.
Alexander-Arnold gets to the byline and fires in a cross which Mane tries to smash it home but Aarons gets in the way to stop it hitting the back of the net.
Max Aarons does well to get past Mane but Tsimikas puts it out for a throw.
The ball then gets put into the box but Alexander-Arnold puts it behind for a corner.
The resulting corner goes beyond the two centre-halves and safely caught by Alisson.
Mo Salah gets us back underway for the second-half
The whistle goes for half-time and Liverpool take a 1-0 lead into the break.
Jota got the goal after a slice of luck when Salah's miscontrol led to the ball finding his Portuguese teammate but some strong play by Liverpool in that half.
Norwich have also had their moments and this game is by no means over.
Rashica does brilliantly to get past Tsimikas and he plays a cross into Rupp who can't quite get his head onto it.
Alexander-Arnold plays a long ball to Mo Salah who can't quite gather the ball and Norwich are able to work it out of defence.
Game is starting to fizzle out with half-time approaching.
Gilmour has a slip which invites pressure from Mane but the midfielder recovers the situation well to poke the ball to a teammate before Mane gets in.
Norwich play a long ball to Pukki moments later but Matip defends well and Liverpool start passing it around again.
Mane and Tsimikas are linking well down the left-flank but the left-back gets frustrated with himself as he gives away a throw-in to Norwich.
Van Dijk tries to play a long ball to Salah but Gibson stands up to it.
Liverpool win the ball back and go down the right-flank but Cantwell does very well to win his side a free-kick.
Jota and Mane putting a lot of pressures on the Norwich defenders but they are able to play their way out of trouble.
Milner takes the corner and Van Dijk attempts to meet it on the half-volley but doesn't connect well with it and the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
Salah goes down under a challenge from Cantwell in the box but the referee and VAR judge that it's not enough for a penalty.
Moments later it really should be 2-0 as a Salah shot gets blocked and the ball rolls to Matip and perhaps a more natural finisher would have tucked it away but his tame effort gets put behind for a corner.
Aarons slides in Pukki who then tries to play it across to Rashica but Alexander-Arnold puts it behind for a throw-in only for the offside flag to then be lifted.
Joel Matip is up high just after a corner and wins another corner off Grant Hanley.
The resulting corner comes to nothing and the ball then goes behind as Naby Keita can't get on the end of a Sadio Mane pass.
Some Norwich complaints after the goal as Pukki says he was shoved by Van Dijk, though it was quite a bit before the goal went in.
Liverpool take the lead and it's Diogo Jota who gets on the scoresheet!
Alexander-Arnold again cuts back to Salah and there's a moment of good fortune as the Egyptian doesn't control it well and it rolls to Jota who tucks home to put the Reds 1-0 up.
This equally would have been a lovely yet cheeky goal for Cantwell as he goes down the right-flank as he spots Alisson off his line and tries to chip him but it goes over though the Brazilian keeper probably would have had it covered.
James Milner moments later gets Liverpool's first booking of the season for a challenge on Pukki.
This would have been a lovely goal by Liverpool as Sadio Mane spins Pukki on the left-flank who is back to defend.
Mane then puts a cross in for Mo Salah who looks to smash home a volley which doesn't go far wide of the post.
Lovely ball by Pukki sets Rashica down the left-wing but the new signing's cross is put out for a throw-in by Tsimikas.
Liverpool looking a little nervous now and the Norwich fans are reacting to this.
Alexander-Arnold gives the ball away at the edge of the box and Norwich try and work a cross into the box but Alisson gets to it and Liverpool are now back on the ball.
Big chance for Norwich!
Lovely ball by Cantwell around the back of the Liverpool defence and Pukki gets behind Van Dijk but his shot is tipped wide by Alisson.
The resulting corner comes to nothing but great chance for the Canaries.
Alexander-Arnold with another dangerous ball which Aarons heads out for a corner.
Tsimikas with the corner and it gets headed to the edge of the box where Oxlade-Chamberlain is unable to connect cleanly with an ambitious volley.
Chance for Liverpool as Alexander-Arnold cuts the ball back into the box to Mo Salah who evades one challenge and fires at goal but straight into the hands of Tim Krul.
Billy Gilmour was put into a spot of bother with a ball played into him which nearly sets Jota free but Norwich get out of jail and are able to win the ball back.
Salah tries to find Jota but his pass is well anticipated by Hanley who gets in the way to break down the attack.
Sadio Mane has a one on one with Max Aarons and fires a cross into the box but it evades everyone until it finds Oxlade-Chamberlain who tries to cut it back for a teammate but Norwich clear.
Norwich on the attack again as Rashica and Pukki link up. The new signing tries to put a cross into the box though Matip heads out for a corner.
Moments later a cross is whipped into the box but far too high for Pukki to get his head on it.
First big chance for Liverpool!
Naby Keita lobs the ball into the box and Diogo Jota's header is tipped over the crossbar. The resulting corner comes to nothing but Liverpool starting to get into this game now.
Virgil van Dijk plays a long ball into the Norwich box but Sadio Mane is not able to control it.
Moments later Tsimikas plays a dangerous ball from the left-flank towards Jota but Ben Gibson does well to put it over the post for a corner.
Liverpool put pressure on the Norwich defence and Hanley is put under pressure from a wayward pass but he gets between the ball and Mo Salah and wins them a free-kick.
Mane tries to link up with Tsimikas down the left but the Greek full-back bundles a Norwich defender to the floor and the Canaries get a free-kick.
The corner is aimed for Joel Matip but it finds a Norwich player's head and they clear well.
Alexander-Arnold whips in a great ball for Mane who looks like he's trying to head it back for Tsimikas but Cantwell puts it behind for a corner though Norwich dispute the decision.
Tsimikas is caught by Rashica but the referee sees nothing in it.
Norwich passing the ball around very nicely in the early going and Liverpool are unable to string some passes together.
Long ball over the top from Norwich but Rashica gets flagged for offside. Liverpool like to play a high-line, something Norwich might try and take advantage of.
Rashica gets behind Matip on the left-wing and squares it back to Cantwell who doesn't have space to pull off a shot.
They pull it to the right flank and Tsimikas puts it out for a throw-in.
Pukki gets us underway at Carrow Road!
James Milner captaining Liverpool leads the Reds out before Grant Hanley and the Norwich team follow them out.
Lot of noise in the stands at Carrow Road, great to see fans back.
It's not long to go before the final Premier League game of the day at Carrow Road.
How big a part will fans fans being back at Carrow Road play on the outcome this evening?
Liverpool have a strong record against Norwich having won 12 and drawn twice in their last 14 games against the Canaries.
In their 18 Premier League meetings, Liverpool have scored 50 goals in which 12 were scored by Luis Suarez.
Norwich have also not won an opening day game since the opening Premier League season in 1992-93 against Arsenal but these records are always there to be broken.
If Norwich are to survive relegation this season then on-loan Chelsea star Billy Gilmour could play a vital part.
The young Scottish midfielder was man of the match when Chelsea played Liverpool last season and also impressed in the summer for Scotland against England.
He is one of a number of debutants for Norwich this evening.
Today's game marks the first Premier League start for Kostas Tsimikas since he joined the club one year ago.
The left-back struggled with injuries during his first campaign at the club, though Andy Robertson's injury has provided him an opportunity so shine.
Tsimikas impressed in pre-season but this will be his toughest test yet.
Virgil van Dijk signed a new contract earlier this week and Jurgen Klopp has vowed to sort out Jordan Henderson's contract situation.
Liverpool are also looking into extending Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane's current deals.
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It was a close affair the last time these two sides met at Carrow Road in February 2020.
Norwich had their chances but Liverpool took all three points through a 78th minute goal by Sadio Mane.
Just two games later Liverpool would lose their 44-game unbeaten streak with a 3-0 loss to Watford.
Tim Krul remembers standing in the tunnel at Anfield on the opening day of Norwich’s last season in the Premier League two years ago and feeling concerned about how the night may go.
‘I could see our young lads looking at Salah, Mane, Van Dijk and the rest,’ the Norwich goalkeeper told Sportsmail this week.
‘I could see their faces and then it can be difficult to walk out in front of 50,000 people. Of course, that does something to your confidence and then suddenly you are two goals down.’
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The big news for the visitors is the return of Virgil van Dijk who has recovered from the injury he suffered against Everton back on October 17.
His return is a huge boost to Jurgen Klopp's side as they look to reclaim the title they lost last season.
After a season where the Reds struggled with injuries at centre-back, they have four available to them this evening.
Joel Matip is chosen alongside van Dijk with new signing Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez on the bench.
For Liverpool the big news is that Virgil van Dijk starts and he is alongside Joel Matip who also returns after a lengthy injury.
Kostas Tsimikas steps in for the injured Andy Robertson while Roberto Firmino is left on the bench with Diogo Jota starting.
For Norwich a number of new faces make the starting line-up including Milot Rashica, Billy Gilmour and Pierre Lees-Melou.
And welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of Norwich v Liverpool
The Premier League is back and there has already been some cracking games this weekend and hopefully this will be another.
Norwich start the season like they did the last time they were in the top flight, against Liverpool. They'll hope their experience from two seasons ago fares them better this campaign.
For Liverpool they will be looking to wrangle the Premier League title back to Merseyside and though they haven't made much business in the market, Virgil van Dijk is back in the starting line-up.
Stay tuned for all the team news, build-up, live updates and the result.
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