There was not even a glimpse of the trophy they won in Madrid on June 1 on this occasion, or any other match day to come it seems, because Jurgen Klopp would simply prefer his team play like the champions of Europe rather than continue to parade the spoils of that famous night.
That was how Season No 30 in pursuit of Anfield's lost league title began and the first half will have been largely as Klopp wanted, with four goals for Liverpool and the crushing of a promoted club who have kept largely out of the transfer market this summer. Which is not to say that an adventurous Norwich City did not occasionally seek out the weaker spots of this Liverpool team, it was just that when it came to keeping them out they struggled badly.
It began dreadfully for Norwich with an own goal from the captain Grant Hanley and from there Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi helped themselves to goals before half-time brought some respite for the visitors. Anfield was not entirely satisfied with events – the Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker was helped off the pitch in the first half, the extent of his injury unclear still, although that could be a serious issue for Klopp.
Some things never change: the usual commanding performance from van Dijk in defence while Roberto Firmino gave Norwich's defenders a fresh experience in what it is to deal with a striker with a golden touch and an inexhaustible work rate. The fluency that this Liverpool team became famous for last season may take a little longer.
Klopp said he never gave any thought to bringing the European Cup out before the game. "No one needs to congratulate me anymore," he said. "This is a new season and we start again". He wants to remind his players that there is another mountain to climb, although there is no getting away from the reality that this Liverpool team have a place in history now, in a stadium in which the flags now have one extra star.