Norwich 0-3 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah scores and assists two

Mohamed Salah scored one and provided two assists as Liverpool got their Premier League title bid off to a winning start with a comfortable victory at newly promoted Norwich City.

Salah got his side's third to become the first player to score on the opening weekend in five consecutive Premier League campaigns and cap a fine display after earlier setting up Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.

The Reds were boosted before kick off by the return of talismanic defender Virgil van Dijk after 10 months out through injury and their day got even better when they took the lead midway through the first half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold found Salah inside the box and the Egypt forward's touch fell into the path of Jota to finish clinically.

It was a little harsh on Norwich, who had made a spirited start to the game as they were roared on by a buoyant home crowd making the most of their return to Carrow Road and the top flight.

Teemu Pukki, who scored 11 goals in the Premier League two seasons ago, drew an early save out of Alisson after getting in behind the visitors' defence.

But once Liverpool went in front they rarely looked in danger of letting their lead slip as Norwich struggled to rediscover their early rhythm.

Max Aarons cleared a goal-bound effort from Sadio Mane six minutes after the break but a second goal duly arrived shortly after the hour mark when substitute Firmino struck.

The Brazil forward had only been on the pitch four minutes when he tapped in from close range after unselfish work from Salah, who opted to pass to his team-mate when he had the chance to shoot himself.

Salah then wrapped up the perfect opening day for the Reds when he collected the ball after a corner had only been half cleared and curled a fine strike into the back of the net.

Liverpool boosted by defensive returns

Liverpool finished third in the Premier League last season, 17 points behind champions Manchester City after their season was derailed by a terrible mid-season slump as they struggled to cope with an injury crisis in defence.

But the signs are good that they will be well stocked in that area this campaign. Van Dijk made his first league appearance since October last year at Norwich and he was joined in the centre of defence by Joel Matip, who is back after seven months out.

Joe Gomez, who was also missing for most of the second part of last season, and new signing Ibrahima Konate were on the bench as suddenly Liverpool looked well stocked in that area having been threadbare in the last campaign.

There were elements of rustiness to the play from Van Dijk and Matip, particularly early on as Norwich got in behind the visitors' defence on a couple of occasions.

But they grew into the game and by the second half were repelling the Canaries' attacks comfortably - although they did require a brilliant close-range stop from Alisson at the end to secure a clean sheet.

Bigger tests will come for the Reds this season but with the defence having depth to it and their attacking players looking sharp, they are looking in good shape to make a more extended run at the title this term.

Groundhog day for Norwich

Norwich are back in the Premier League after one season in the Championship, which they comfortably won to return to the top flight.

Their last stint at this level saw them finish bottom of the table and be relegated with just 21 points, their season characterised by spells of good play in the majority of their games only to fail to capitalise on those.

Making the most of their return to Carrow Road and the Premier League, Norwich fans were in buoyant mood before kick off and those good vibes continued as the home side made a bright start.

They were the better side for the opening 25 minutes, attacking with pace and a directness that unsettled the returning Liverpool defence. But it soon became an all-too-familiar story as, despite their good play, they were unable to take advantage before their opponents went ahead.

From then on they were second best, improving slightly towards the end as Alisson denied Ben Gibson a consolation.

An opening-day defeat against Liverpool is not going to be a result that defines their season and historically they have struggled against the Reds, who have now won 13 of their last 15 encounters.

But with reigning champions Manchester City up next followed by games against Leicester City and Arsenal it is a reminder of just how tough life in the Premier League is.

Player of the match

Roberto FirminoRoberto Firmino

Norwich City

Squad number8Player nameGilmour

Squad number22Player namePukki

Squad number17Player nameRashica

Squad number14Player nameCantwell

Squad number2Player nameAarons

Squad number5Player nameHanley

Squad number30Player nameGiannoulis

Squad number20Player nameLees-Melou

Squad number4Player nameGibson

Squad number7Player nameRupp

Squad number1Player nameKrul

Squad number24Player nameSargent

Squad number35Player nameIdah

Squad number10Player nameDowell

Line-ups

Norwich

Formation 4-5-1

1Krul

2Aarons5Hanley4Gibson30Giannoulis

14Cantwell20Lees-Melou8Gilmour7Rupp17Rashica

22Pukki

Substitutes

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold32Matip4van Dijk21Tsimikas

15Oxlade-Chamberlain7Milner8Keïta

11Salah20Jota10Mané

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Norwich City 0, Liverpool 3.

Second Half ends, Norwich City 0, Liverpool 3.

Attempt missed. Lukas Rupp (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Kieran Dowell.

Attempt missed. Joshua Sargent (Norwich City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Max Aarons.

Attempt missed. Max Aarons (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kieran Dowell.

Attempt saved. Adam Idah (Norwich City) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Grant Hanley.

Attempt blocked. Grant Hanley (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt saved. Ben Gibson (Norwich City) left footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Pierre Lees-Melou with a cross.

Substitution, Norwich City. Kieran Dowell replaces Todd Cantwell.

Foul by Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool).

Joshua Sargent (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution, Liverpool. Harvey Elliott replaces Naby Keïta.

Foul by Max Aarons (Norwich City).

Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Virgil van Dijk following a corner.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Billy Gilmour.

Substitution, Norwich City. Adam Idah replaces Teemu Pukki.

Substitution, Norwich City. Joshua Sargent replaces Milot Rashica.

Lukas Rupp (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).

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