Liverpool clashed heads with Norwich City at Anfield earlier tonight hoping to make a winning start to this Premier League campaign. The Reds began the match well and got themselves ahead in the 7th minute when Grant Hanley, unfortunately, scored an own goal in front of the Canaries supporters at the Anfield Road End. Mohamed Salah doubled the home side’s lead just eleven minutes later when he scored after a neat interchange with Roberto Firmino. The Merseyside outfit scored two more goals through Virgil Van Dijk and Divock Origi to go into the half-time break with a 4-0 lead.
The second half was more of the same with the Reds dominating possession, but being wasteful in the final third. The Canaries got a consolation goal via Teemu Pukki as the match ended 4-1 in favour of Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Let’s take a look at how each Liverpool player performed during the opening night encounter versus the Canaries.
GK: Alisson Becker – 7/10
The Brazilian keeper made a couple of great saves before suffering an unfortunate injury while taking a goal-kick. He had to be subbed off soon after much to the worry of the club’s supporters.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7/10
The English defensive ace whipped in some dangerous crosses from the right-wing. He was defensively sound as well.
CB: Joe Gomez – 7/10
The English centre-back had a good game at the back but will be disappointed about the fact that he couldn’t keep a clean sheet.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 8/10
The Dutch defender made some crucial interceptions for his team and was a hard man to beat in a 1v1 situation during the game. Scored a towering header as well.
LB: Andrew Robertson – 6.5/10
The Scottish full-back worked his socks off down the left flank. However, he lacked the end product in the final third.
CM: Jordan Henderson – 7.5/10
The Liverpool skipper sprayed some excellent long passes and was a tireless runner from midfield. He would be disappointed not to have scored tonight.
CM: Fabinho – 6.5/10
The Brazilian midfielder dug in deep and made some well-timed challenges at the centre of the park.
CM: Georginio Wijnaldum – 6/10
The Dutch talent linked up play well with his teammates but was not able to make an impact on the offensive end of the field.
RM: Mohamed Salah – 8/10
The Egyptian winger could have scored a hattrick tonight, but he ended up registering one goal and creating an assist in the game.
ST: Roberto Firmino – 7/10
The Brazilian forward pressed the opposition well and showed a few glimpses of his brilliance during the match. However, he was unlucky not to have found the back of the net tonight.
LM: Divock Origi – 8.5/10
The Belgian prospect was superb in the first half as he made some penetrative runs down the left-wing. He played his part in the lead up to the Grant Hanley own goal and ended up scoring one himself with his header in the 42nd minute.
Substitutes:
GK: Adrain – 6/10
The Spaniard passed the ball accurately from the back after coming on to replace the injured, Alisson. However, he failed to keep a clean sheet on the night, which will disappoint him.
LM: Sadio Mane – 7/10
He put in a nice little cameo after coming on for the final quarter of the match.
CM: James Milner – 7/10
The English veteran battled hard and put in a matured display in midfield after coming on for the final few minutes of the game.
