For a little over half an hour, Liverpool’s start to the season had looked like being, if not perfect—it was too open at the back for that—then certainly extremely comfortable. It led newly-promoted Norwich City 3-0 and was playing with increasing fluency. But then, taking a routine goal-kick, the goalkeeper Alisson slipped. He was forced off with what appeared to be a calf strain and, while the precise nature of the problem remains unclear, the fear is that he could miss several weeks of the season. The injury overshadowed a comfortable 4-1 victory.
The only positive for Alisson is that he did not need a stretcher but was able, after treatment and with help, to limp off.