How expectations have changed with the opening of the new season. The mood could not have been higher on Merseyside, as Liverpool wrecked West Ham 4-0 at Anfield.
In a match that revealed a greater gulf in quality, Liverpool cruised to convincing victory without completely hammering the Hammers. It was the club’s 500th Premier League win but a more impressive milestone was being the biggest opening day victory in 24 years.
The Reds were dominant from start to finish in a scoreline that almost flattered the visitors. West Ham never really got much of a sniff, outside of a couple of corner kicks. It may only be matchday one, but Liverpool will likely make a number of league sides look this lethargic. The Hammers were made to look even more mediocre than they might actually be.
The front three spent last season blazing a trail of 91 goals and picked things up at pace with Mohamed Salah scoring first and Sadio Mané matching and seeing a second. At 3-0, the Reds relaxed a bit, showing a newfound sense of being able to see out a match before an injection of substitutes stoked things further. Within seconds, Daniel Sturridge scored in the 88th minute, continuing on his exceptional pre-season form. There was no shortage of sights to excite.
Here are four findings from the match.
