For all his dramatic interventions last season, the Belgium forward still felt like a bit part player, now he is making an impact as a wide outlet as well as a finisherAusterity will never catch on. The opening fixture of the new Premier League season brought together the two sides who spent the least money over summer, though all it proved was that Norwich’s financial prudence is a world away from the luxury Liverpool can afford of seeing no reason to add to a settled and successful side. The newly promoted Canaries can only console themselves with the thought that they will not have to play the champions of Europe every week. Liverpool are hardly poster boys for make do and mend after the money they have spent in the last few seasons, though here at least was evidence that there is a skill in knowing when to stop and more than a suggestion that Jürgen Klopp is on the right lines in assuming he has a pretty complete side already.Norwich were doubly unlucky in drawing Anfield as their first trip of the season since Klopp’s players are fresh in August and better-equipped to implement the suffocating press the manager prefers. The visitors must have known what to expect yet still found it difficult to break out of their own half in the opening stages, bewildered by the speed with which red short close down space, cut off passing options and forced mistakes. Liverpool did not manage a shot on target until Mohamed Salah put them two in front after 19 minutes, yet they still managed to give the Norwich back line a torrid time. That much was clear from the way Divock Origi turned Max Aarons this way and that before crossing for the opening goal. Grant Hanley was unlucky to shin an attempted clearance past his own goalkeeper when attempting to send the ball downfield, but the ease with which Andy Robertson had found space for Origi on the left was already ominous for Norwich after a mere eight minutes. Related: Liverpool brush aside Norwich to make an early statement of intent Continue readingreadfullarticle
