Liverpool’s impressive start to the new season continued with a resounding 5-1 thrashing of Hull City at Anfield.

Adam Lallana opened the scoring before James Milner later doubled the advantage from the penalty spot as Jurgen Klopp’s side raced ahead.

A second goal on home soil for Sadio Mane helped the Reds extend their advantage before half-time as Ahmed El Mohamady’s dismissal reduced the visitors to 10 men.

Hull struck back after the interval through David Meyler although it proved to be shortlived as Philippe Coutinho unleashed a wonder strike just a minute later.

Milner added further insult to injury with a second spot kick, on 71 minutes, to compound the misery for Mike Phelan’s side.

Here were the key talking points from the Reds’ rout…

Karius slots in but needs time

 

The anticipation about Loris Karius has been palpable for several months. Signing the second-best Bundesliga goalkeeper tends to have that effect.

But Jurgen Klopp’s refusal to crown his compatriot, a fellow Mainz graduate, as Liverpool’s number-one stopper appeared all the more evident against Hull.

Chosen ahead of Simon Mignolet, Anfield’s first glance of Karius was an archetypal game of two halves which reflected Liverpool’s first-half rampancy.

Shy of pitching a deck chair in the Kop goalmouth, he could not have appeared more at ease during an opening 45 minutes where Hull rarely threatened.

It was less comfortable after the interval as David Meyler pulled the visitors back with a ruthless volley which ultimately proved to be a conciliatory strike.

Whether it was the two-month absence with a broken hand which delayed the start of his Reds career or first-day nerves in front of a home crowd, Karius appeared worryingly bereft of confidence.

The battle to become Liverpool’s undisputed no.1 will continue for the foreseeable future at least.

Reds need to last the distance

 

In a season which has already delivered wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and an emphatic win over champions Leicester, Jurgen Klopp still continues to demand more.

It is easy to see where the effusive German is coming from; Liverpool have seen off several of their esteemed Premier League peers but none have been what would be considered complete victories.

There has always been a lull in every game; a period where they regularly take their foot off the pedal, often when they are comfortably ahead.

The visit of Mike Phelan’s side was no different, with Klopp berating his side’s second-half performance as not being without imperfections.

Killing off teams early is a positive but there will be a method to the Liverpool manager’s madness in wishing to see his side in full tilt to the very end.

Smells like team spirit from Sturridge

 

These have been trying times for Daniel Sturridge. His fall from grace in the Anfield pecking order has undoubtedly affected the striker of late.

Downgraded to the substitutes bench, his introduction in place of Adam Lallana showed a different side to a player supposedly fixated on being centre-stage.

Not only did the England international appear sharper, especially when winning a penalty after proving too agile for Hull defender Andrew Robertson, he also appeared to have learned the merits of team spirit.

Where the old Sturridge would have seized the match ball and prepared to take aim from 12 yards, he was more than willing to relinquish control to Milner, who duly converted his second of the afternoon.

That change demonstrated to Klopp that his former star striker is capable of acts of selflessness – something previously thought to have been beyond him.

Sakho really won’t be missed

 

Much of the immediate pre-match debate had centred around the future of Mamadou Sakho following his early-morning outburst on social media.

Dropping the French defender was previously considered blasphemous to some but that perception is rapidly shifting already, five games into this season.

Even with Joel Matip’s blossoming partnership with Dejan Lovren put on hold by the Croatian’s latest injury, Ragnar Klavan proved a more than able deputy.

Should Sakho win the currently precarious fight to cling to his Anfield career, he will face a greater fight in attempting to muscle his way back into the side.