Liverpool 4-1 Norwich: Reds crush newly-promoted rivals but Alisson is injured

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi were on target as Liverpool started the new Premier League season by beating Norwich City.

Match Report

Liverpool kicked off the new Premier League season with a convincing 4-1 victory over Norwich City at Anfield on Friday.

Last season's record-breaking runners-up Liverpool wasted no time in setting about getting maximum points, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk adding to Grant Hanley's comical own goal within the opening 30 minutes.

Divock Origi made it four in the 42nd minute on his 100th Reds appearance but Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to add to their tally and Teemu Pukki netted a consolation strike for the newly-promote side.

However, the real sour note for Liverpool was the loss of goalkeeper Alisson, who had to be replaced by debutant Adrian in the first half after appearing to sustain a hamstring injury taking a goal-kick.

Match Events

7' OWN GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Norwich City (Hanley)

LIVERPOOL 1-0 NORWICH! The hosts are ahead inside seven minutes thanks to a horror moment for Hanley. 

Origi is unable to get past Aarons down the left so he sends a cross into the six-yard box and Hanley -  one of the more experienced members of this Norwich squad - fails to readjust his feet, sending his sliced clearance past his own goalkeeper.

19' GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Norwich City (Salah)

LIVERPOOL 2-0 NORWICH! Salah is off the mark for the season inside the opening 19 minutes of this curtain-raising fixture! 

Alexander-Arnold, pushing high up down the right, loses possession in the box. 

But it ricochets around and Firmino pokes it into the path of Salah, who shows great composure to side-foot his shot past Krul.

26' Excellent save from Alisson!

The ball bounces up for Buendia to shoot around 20 yards out. 

It is an awkward one to hit and the attacking midfielder does not make clean contact, giving Alisson an easy save to make down the middle.

28' GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Norwich City (Van Dijk)

LIVERPOOL 3-0 NORWICH! Against the run of play, Liverpool add a third goal to their tally. 

Salah delivers his left-sided corner to the edge of the six-yard box and Van Dijk does not even have to jump to get on the end of it, sending his header through the legs of Krul.

39' Alisson goes off injured

Alisson slipped when launching the ball up the field and may have damaged his calf. 

Adrian, signed on a free transfer earlier this week to replace Mignolet, is on for his Liverpool debut.

42' GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Norwich City (Origi)

Liverpool have themselves a fourth goal before half-time and it is Origi, filling in for Mane, who scores it. 

Alexander-Arnold sends an arrowed cross into the box from deep and Origi gets across his man to guide the header past Krul. As simple as you like for Klopp's men!

54' Salah comes close!

Every last person in the ground can see exactly what Salah has planned as he cuts inside and uses Godfrey as a shield to try to bend the ball past Krul.

There is not enough bend on the shot, however, and it ends wide of the far post.

64' GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Norwich City (Pukki)

Pukki once again gets in behind Liverpool's defence and this time he manages to convert with a smart finish across Adrian, who perhaps could have done more to keep it out. Norwich have a lifeline!

74' Origi is replaced by Mane

Origi, who can be happy with his performance today, makes way for the returning Mane. The Senegal international only returned to training on Wednesday so he is far from match fit.

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