'Naby Keita fits in perfectly' - the media on Liverpool 4-0 West Ham

Sadio Mane netted twice, with Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge also on target on an enjoyable afternoon in L4.

Here is what the media made of the game and the Reds…

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

This is what you call packing a punch. Liverpool got their Premier League campaign off to a flyer with a genuine heavyweight performance at Anfield. “We're still Rocky Balboa, we're not Ivan Drago,” insisted Jürgen Klopp ahead of the big kick-off as he sought to keep a lid on expectation levels. But belief in what the crop of 2018-19 are capable of delivering will only rocket after such an emphatic start. This was the Reds' biggest opening day win at Anfield since Wolves were thrashed 5-1 way back in 1932. If it had been a boxing match the towel would have been thrown in long before the end. With Adrian watching on from the Hammers' bench, Manuel Pellegrini's side were subjected to a pummelling. The attacking juggernaut which reached the Champions League final in thrilling fashion last term is rolling once again. New season, same old box office Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, the 44-goal record-breaker of 2017-18, wasted no time in opening his account before Sadio Mane took centre stage with a clinical double. The strength of the squad Klopp has assembled courtesy of the arrival of £170million worth of new talent was underlined by the sight of Jordan Henderson, Xherdan Shaqiri and Sturridge coming off the bench. There was no let up for the punch-drunk Hammers.

Glenn Price, ESPN

Liverpool started a hugely promising season on the proper note. Expectations on Merseyside are as high as they've ever been - and rightly so based on this compelling display. It's only early days, but it would appear Naby Keita is going to be a devastating extension of Liverpool's front three this season. It's a task Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain performed well in the second half of last, and his expected loss for 2018-19 means Keita had to hit the ground running - and he has. There were countless examples of the dynamic midfielder joining Salah, Mane and Firmino in the opponent's penalty area. But it was his ability to feed the trio that stood out. He was crucial for the opening goal. Between the lines, Keita picked up possession from Trent Alexander-Arnold before driving toward the West Ham back four. In doing so, most of Anfield thought he had held onto the ball for too long. That was until he laid it off for Robertson to deliver the accurate assist. When Firmino was taken off in the 69th minute, Keita finished the game as the left forward. Liverpool supporters had to wait 12 months for him to arrive. He could very well be worth it. There is a reason why Barcelona attempted to hijack Liverpool's pursuit last summer, but it's also becoming abundantly clear why Keita chose Klopp and Liverpool. He fits perfectly in this current setup.

Neil Jones, Goal.com

The evidence of the first game of the new season is that Klopp's Reds will be serious challengers to Manchester City. The shirts are new, some of the faces too. The press room has had a lick of paint and there’s a fresh motto plastered around the stadium. “We are Liverpool,” it reads. “This Means More.” Welcome to the new-look Liverpool. Much the same as the old one actually, only better. West Ham are the first victims of Klopp’s refurbished Reds side, but they won’t be the last. The Premier League campaign at Anfield began as many suspected it would, with a home win and a performance which suggests this side will be something to savour as the season progresses. Contenders? You bet. Take the opposition into account, of course – and West Ham themselves have had a major overhaul in the summer – but don’t ignore the evidence. Liverpool were a very good side last season, and they’ve improved significantly since then. Finish above them this season and you’ll have silverware in your hands, surely? As for this performance, perhaps the really frightening message is that Liverpool can get better, that this was only a taster for what lies ahead.

Simon Hughes, Independent

It was a day of immense encouragement for Liverpool and their supporters, one where the relentless performance of another new signing in Naby Keita made him one of several candidates for man of the match. Keita is someone Klopp was so desperate to recruit he was happy to wait a year for his arrival. The Guinean enjoyed an outstanding debut. He is a rare sort of midfielder that is neither a No.10 or even a No.8 because of the space he finds, the energy he expends in closing down opponents and his skill. He is difficult to define because he appears to be so many things at once. Perhaps most importantly for Klopp, he is another player that does not muck around because everything happens at speed. And yet, he evidently possesses the intelligence to know when to slow down and wait for the back-up. Ultimately, this is why Liverpool were able to take the lead. James Milner’s presence beside Keita was also vital. The older he gets, the more energy and influence he seems to find. He is like a rash. Though his role and responsibilities were primarily central, he consumed Liverpool’s right side to the point where it felt inevitable that he would end up contributing towards something vital.

Chris Bascombe, Telegraph

Most reassuring for Salah and Klopp, the supply line to the ever-reliable strikers has been reinforced, Keita’s English debut demonstrating how seamlessly he will complement those ahead. The ‘Fab Four’ lost a founder member when Philippe Coutinho was sold to Barcelona. The concept - which Klopp did not like but is too headline-grabbing to ignore - could be revived with the nimble and clever Keita. Even with Sadio Mane’s double extending the lead either side of half-time, it was Keita’s introduction that was most eye-catching when Liverpool took control before the break. Few are yet to accurately define the Guinea midfielder, his game often compared to that of N’Golo Kante during those months last summer when Liverpool tried to secure a deal with RB Leipzig. This debut confirmed the presence of a player with a different profile to Kante, taking more advanced positions and seeking to link with forwards. He is, as his shirt suggests, a No.8 not an anchorman. When Roberto Firmino was rested with 22 minutes left, Keita moved into the front three from the left. He looks like he will create plenty and get chances of his own, while willing to put in a robust tackle when necessary.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.