Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners over West Ham.
The Reds’ season opener got off to a flying start when Mohamed Salah opened the scoring as he tapped home Andy Robertson’s low cross.
Mane doubled the advantage on the stroke of half time from a James Milner cut-back before adding another shortly before the hour mark.
Daniel Sturridge rounded off the win for Jurgen Klopp’s side within a matter seconds of coming on as a substitute as he met Milner’s corner at the far post.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Keita already running the show
Taking Steven Gerrard’s no.8 shirt is one thing, owning it is a different matter.
But Naby Keita has already mastered that task after just one appearance.
He appeared more comfortable after 90 minutes than most of the Reds’ midfielders have done with almost a century of games under their belt.
The Guinea international is as quick-thinking as he is quick-footed and proved he can dictate the pace at will, as evidenced by Mohamed Salah’s opener.
Instead of running into blind alleys, Keita slowed his role enough to allow Andy Robertson to square to Salah for one of his easiest-ever goals scored.
Forget Gerrard, Liverpool haven’t had anyone on this level since the days of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
Business as usual for Salah and co.
In a summer of unprecedented spending at Anfield, some things at least have stayed constant.
No one knew whether Salah would return to his free-scoring best after a season of broken records and an underwhelming World Cup campaign.
But the Egyptian showed that class is permanent with a series of menacing runs to compliment a tap-in for his 29th league goal in as many outings.
Salah was not alone, either; Sadio Mane’s two-goal haul indicated that he is returning to a level last witnessed during his breakthrough debut campaign.
Add Roberto Firmino’s hand in setting up Mane’s second of the afternoon and it is very much business as usual from Liverpool’s front three.
Could this really be ‘the year’?
Seasons change but the question remains eternal: will this finally be Liverpool’s year?
Sooner rather than later, the answer often fizzles out to a resounding ‘no’. This time around pose a different response based on the current state of play.
Unlike the previous title challenges of 2008/09 and 2013/14, Jurgen Klopp has finally assembled a side which carries both quality and depth to it.
Daniel Sturridge’s late goal encapsulated the current wealth of options, with both he and Xherdan Shaqiri adding fresh attacking impetus from the bench.
No one else appears capable of laying a glove on Manchester City as things stand. This season represents Liverpool’s best chance to step up the plate.
Reds full-backs are still flying
A key feature of Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final was the prominence of Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold on opposing flanks.
Like their attacking peers, the duo picked up where they had left off with solid showings that kept things tight in defence and posed a threat going forward.
Robertson, in particular, won the plaudits with a hand in the first two goals; first with a cut-back to Salah and then a lofted ball to Milner to tee up Mane.
Meanwhile Alexander-Arnold regulalry marauded down the right-hand side and tested Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski with a well-drilled free kick.
The West Derby teenager was used sparingly in England’s World Cup campaign but he is making up for lost time now, as is Robertson.