Jurgen Klopp welcomed back football as he knows it as Liverpool left a packed Carrow Road with three Premier League points on Saturday evening.
Liverpool secured a comprehensive 3-0 win at Norwich City to kick off their 2021/22 Premier League season in style.
Diogo Jota got the Reds off the mark with a fierce drive in the 26th minute and Roberto Firmino all but wrapped up the points with a goal midway through the second half having only entered the pitch minutes earlier.
Mo Salah had assisted both efforts and he got on the scoresheet before full-time with a record-breaking strike, becoming the first Premier League player to score in five consecutive opening weekends.
Liverpool’s 2019/20 title-winning season was concluded in empty stadiums, with much of their title defence also played behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Following Saturday’s game in front of a packed Carrow Road crowd, Klopp hailed both his players and the fans in attendance for making it a special occasion.
"It's great to see the fans back and I hope that Norwich celebrated as well because they had an exceptional season," Klopp said.
"The occasion was great. It was exactly what we expected and what we'd missed for so long.
"I applauded the Norwich fans as well because it's so nice to have fans back, wherever they come from.
“I could see in the eyes of the players they had to get used to it again. Everybody has to get used to the atmosphere.
"It's cool. Football is back."
Additional reporting by PA/Reuters.
