Captains John Terry and Steven Gerrard both scored headers in the first half at Stamford Bridge to send Chelsea and Liverpool into the break all square at 1-1.
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The newly-crowned Premier League champions set about proving that they would not take things easy in the opening stages, with Cesc Fabregas picking up a yellow card after just two minutes for one of a number of heavy early challenges.
They were soon ahead on the scoreboard, breaking the deadlock in just the fifth minute when Terry rose above Rickie Lambert to nod Fabregas's corner past Simon Mignolet.
His eighth goal of the campaign saw the Chelsea skipper equal his all-time best tally for a single season, in addition to moving clear of David Unsworth as the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history.
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Liverpool responded to that early setback and made a bright break down the left through Glen Johnson, who found his way behind Branislav Ivanovic but could only fire into the side-netting from an improbable angle.
Philippe Coutinho was next to threaten when he cut inside Kurt Zouma before drawing a save from Thibaut Courtois, while, moments later, Raheem Sterling dragged a low effort well wide from 25 yards.
Chelsea began to cause Liverpool problems down the left, but it was from the opposite flank that their next chance arrived, with Fabregas driving an effort towards goal from a tight angle that Mignolet had to deflect away.
Chances were few and far between from that point on, but Liverpool did ensure that they would go into the break level courtesy of Gerrard's eighth league goal of the season and second in as many games.
This one also came via a header as he found himself unmarked at the back post to nod a simple finish home from close range and go some way to banishing the demons of his costly slip at Stamford Bridge last season.
Barney Corkhill
