Liverpool enjoyed a great start to their 2021/22 Premier League campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Norwich City on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp's team eased to victory at Carrow Road thanks to goals from Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
It was a particularly special match for Egyptian star Salah. His strike meant he has now scored in Liverpool's opening league game of the season for a fifth straight season. He also became the first Premier League player to do so. Salah provided the assists for Liverpool's other two goals, too.
An equally big positive for them was centre-back Virgil van Dijk's first competitive game after a lengthy injury layoff.
Van Dijk played just five league games last season before suffering an ACL injury in October.
After the win over Norwich, Van Dijk said he was pleased to be a part of the group again. "You visualise the game so many times in your head before you actually play. I was not tired because of the game, I was tired because of everything around it," Van Dijk said.
"It was sort of like a hurdle. I had to get over that, I felt, then it will come again. I kept training well and felt confident in my knee. It's been a tough road but I am just happy to be out there again.
"It's not the closing of a chapter. I wanted to be playing from the first time because I feel like I need it and it will improve me. But I am not a robot. I cannot be back to 100 per cent immediately. I need games, time and repetition."
Van Dijk looked in good spirits during training in Kirkby on Tuesday, alongside the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Sadio Mane. The Reds take on Burnley at Anfield on Saturday.
Norwich 0 Liverpool 3: player ratings
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NORWICH CITY RATINGS: Tim Krul - 4: The Dutchman was quick off his line early on to foil Jota but should have done much better for the opening goal. -
Max Aarons - 4: The 21-year-old was good going forward and made a fine block to stop Mane scoring. On occasion he neglected his defensive duties and he was missing in action when Firmino scored the second. -
Grant Hanley - 5: The Scot tried to anticipate the ball and got on the wrong side of Jota for the opening goal. He made some good blocks. -
Ben Gibson - 5: The 28-year-old had his hands full with Liverpool's front three and made a number of last-gasp interceptions. He had the opportunity to pull a goal back in a late scramble. -
Dimitris Giannoulis - 6: The Greek showed positive signs on his first Premier League outing. He provided a threat down the line and took a positive approach. -
Billy Gilmour - 5: The youngster on loan from Chelsea did not live up to his billing. He was wasteful in possession and drifted out of the game. The 20-year-old will grow from the experience. -
Lukas Rupp - 4: The German harried the Liverpool midfield but his energy levels dropped as the game went on although he never slacked in his effort. -
Pierre Lees-Melou - 4: The Frenchman had a poor first half. He improved in the second period but his final ball was not as good as his approach work. -
Milot Rashica - 6: The Kosovan caused problems behind Alexander-Arnold and showed encouraging signs on his debut. He was tentative in his decision-making but has the capacity to improve. -
Todd Cantwell - 5: The 23-year-old picked out Pukki with a lovely ball to create his team’s best first-half chance. He grew frustrated in the second half and was booked. Replaced by Dowell with four minutes left. -
Teemu Pukki - 5: The Iceland forward worked hard but was too often left isolated. He was short of match fitness, too. Taken off with 13 minutes left for Idah. -
SUBS: Joshua Sargent - 6: The American replaced Rashica after 77 minutes and produced some threatening moments during his cameo, shooting wide from an awkward angle and running with purpose. -
Adam Idah - 6: On for Pukki with 13 minutes left. He looked bright but his one potential chance was blocked off by a team-mate in a crowded area. -
Kieran Dowell - 5: The former Everton midfielder came on for the last four minutes for Cantwell and had no time to make an impact. -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS; Alisson Becker - 7: The Brazilian made a good stop from Pukki in the first half and then had little to do until the final minutes when he made a great double save to preserve the clean sheet. -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7: Another fine effort by the 22-year-old. He defended well during Norwich’s good spells and his cross led to the opening goal. -
Joel Matip - 7: The centre back struggled with his distribution early on but settled into the game. He was composed and effective when the opposition had the ball. -
Virgil van Dijk - 7: The Dutchman looked a little rusty after his long layoff but his presence in the back four makes the team much more solid. He got better as the game went on. -
Kostas Tsimikas - 7: The Greek proved to be a capable replacement for the injured Robertson. He cleared his lines when under pressure, provided a couple of nice crosses and, one bad lapse of concentration aside, can be pleased with his performance. -
James Milner - 6: The 35-year-old was over-run in the frantic opening period but settled into the game. He sent a great pass to Alexander-Arnold to start the move that led to the first goal. -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 5: The Englishman did not impose himself on proceedings and began to tire in the second half when gaps were beginning to open up. He was withdrawn after an hour for Fabinho. -
Naby Keita - 6: The Guinean has not quite found his role in the team but there were good signs. His pressing was positive, his passing precise and one flick to Salah showed his potential. Taken off with eight minutes left to allow Elliott some playing time. -
Mohamed Salah - 9: The Egyptian was involved in the opening goal, showed his unselfish side when setting up Firmino to score the second and then powered in a magnificent shot for the third. He is the best striker in the Premier League. -
Diogo Jota - 7: The Portuguese opened the scoring with a sharp finish but this was not his most sparking display. He was taken off on the hour for Firmino but will be delighted with his goal. -
Sadio Mane - 7: The Senegalese was busy and created a first-half chance for Salah. He had one shot blocked and kept the defence on their toes even though he never hit the heights. -
SUBS: Fabinho - 7: The Brazilian came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain on the hour and the midfield looked stronger and sharper immediately. -
Roberto Firmino - 7: Replaced Jota in the 60th minute and scored the second goal with a stylish finish. The Brazilian looked full of confidence. -
Harvey Elliott - 6: The 18-year-old was given an eight-minute runout when Keita was withdrawn. The experience will do the youngster good.
