Milner and Mané: We Were Fantastic Today

Liverpool supporters could not have hoped for a better start to the 2018-19 season than the 4-0 walloping their side inflicted on West Ham. With other top six rivals laying down markers earlier in the fixture list, the Reds responded by putting four past the Londoners for the third straight meeting on the way to securing the most impressive Matchday 1 result so far.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the first half before Sadio Mané bagged a brace either side of the half time whistle. A rejuvenated Daniel Sturridge came on late to score with his first touch of the game to round things up with the score line reflecting dominant individual performances from the boys in red all over the pitch.

James Milner took the armband on the day to skipper his side due to captain Jordan Henderson still working his back to fitness following his World Cup exertions, with the 32-year-old giving a glowing assessment of team following the game.

“Expectation is always there first game of the season,” Milner told Sky Sports.

“It’s a good victory, a pretty good performance, but we can always improve on that.

“It was a good start all in all. The most important thing was to get off with a good start.”

While Milner took home the Man of the Match honors, Liverpool’s new no. 10 in Mané was at the center of much the good going forward, with his two goals putting him alongside Thierry Henry and John Barnes as one of the six Premier League players to have scored on three consecutive opening day matches.

”We played great football, created lots of chances and deserved to win,” the Senegalese forward said.

“I’m happy to score goals for the team.

“I think the team was fantastic today, and we now have important games to come. We take it game-by-game.”

The Reds are next in action in eight days away to Crystal Palace.