Liverpool rolled out the red carpet for Mario Balotelli as they marked the Italy striker's debut with an impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham.
Balotelli started as the centre of attention at White Hart Lane on his return to the Premier League, but the controversial former Manchester City player was eventually overshadowed by a majestic display from his new team-mates which emphasised they can thrive despite the sale of star striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona.
Balotelli delivered a typically erratic show, offering glimpses of his talent but also missing several chances before being replaced in the 61st minute. But his presence seemed to revitalise Liverpool after Monday's loss at Manchester City and Raheem Sterling opened the scoring early in the first half before Steven Gerrard's penalty soon after the interval was followed by Alberto Moreno's solo effort.
Brendan Rodgers' 100th match in charge of Liverpool brought his 56th victory, equalling the records of Bill Shankly and Rafael Benitez over the same period, and the Reds boss can expect many more memorable afternoons on the evidence on a scintillating display which ended Tottenham's four-match winning run in ruthless style.
Rodgers' side produced a brilliant move to take the lead in the eighth minute. Jordan Henderson started the blistering raid when he helped the ball onto Sturridge and embarked on a lung-bursting run into the Tottenham penalty area, where he slipped a first-time cross to the far-post for Sterling to convert with a fine finish from a tight angle.
Although Emmanuel Adebayor lobbed over from a good position, Liverpool were calling the shots and Balotelli should have scored when he glanced a header wide from Gerrard's free-kick.
Liverpool doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half. Joe Allen tumbled in the penalty area after a tug from Dier, with the midfielder's exaggerated fall persuading referee Phil Dowd to award a spot-kick which Gerrard calmly stroked past Lloris.
With Tottenham throwing players forward in search of a lifeline, Moreno made it three on the hour. Andros Townsend lost possession and former Sevilla left-back Moreno ran half the length of the pitch unchallenged before driving a fine strike into the far corner for his first Liverpool goal.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa's unbeaten start to the Barclays Premier League season continued as goals from Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann put away Hull at Villa Park.
Villa had the look of a crisis club towards the end of the 2013-14 campaign, with manager Paul Lambert under intense pressure, owner Randy Lerner trying to sell the club and internal discord rife, but seven points from a possible nine paints a rosier picture this time around.
Villa had to settle for a 2-1 victory but should really have enjoyed a more handsome scoreline, dominating first-half proceedings completely with neat finishes from Agbonlahor and Weimann sandwiched by shots against the woodwork from Fabian Delph and Ashley Westwood.
Hull were abject in those 45 minutes, arguably as bad as they have been since their return to the top flight, but tightened up after the interval and found a lifeline when Nikica Jelavic's 72nd-minute header was turned home by Villa full-back Aly Cissokho.
