It was a case of new faces but same old problems for Liverpool as they stuttered unconvincingly past a mediocre Manchester City side at Anfield.
Second half goals from Milan Baros and Steven Gerrard cancelled out a shock opener from former-Red Nicolas Anelka to give the home side a 2-1 win.
A fair result on the balance of play, but Liverpool showed little sign that Rafael Benitez's Spanish revolution has significantly changed the defensive style that has frustrated Kopites in recent years.
Liverpool started brightly, roared on by a crowd who fully expected a convincing win, but their cautious nature took over minutes in as a resolute City side buoyed, by midfield spoilers Paul Bosvelt and Claudio Reyna, seemed happy to let them play the ball between the back four.
An uneventful first half hour saw City frustrate their North-West rivals and despite sprightly play from Djibril Cisse and Baros, there were few real chances.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robbie Fowler and Anelka exchanged some neat passes in midfield as City began to gain a foothold in the match, but like the hosts they struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities.
After 35 minutes, an Anelka corner saw Antoine Sibierski flash a header wide from six yards as the game finally sprang to life.
The chance seemed to fire both sides up and two minutes later Richard Dunne upended the lively Baros on the left touchline and received his first fateful booking.
City seemed to have it in for the Czech international striker and just seconds later Paul Bosvelt hacked him down on the edge of the box. However, a disappointing Harry Kewell could only curl a timid free-kick into the arms of David James.
With less than a minute left of the first half, it was City who made the unlikely breakthrough.
Wright-Phillips beat Gerrard in the tackle and chipped a speculative ball over the top for Anelka to chase. An off balance Jamie Carragher could only manage a back header which Jerzy Dudek fumbled and Anelka ran on to fire the loose ball home left footed.
The second half saw City pinned inside their own half of the field, as Benitez's half-time rallying call seemed to do the job.
Within minutes the excellent Josemi fired in a low cross that was half cleared by the flailing City defence. Dietmar Hamann played the loose ball onto Gerrard and the Reds captain made a darting run goalwards before sliding in Baros for the equaliser.
Liverpool pushed on with Baros and Cisse a constant threat. The Euro 2004 Golden Boot winner was denied a second when James' quick feet thwarted another burst into the box, but as City dropped deeper and deeper, there was only going to be one outcome.
With 15 minutes left, Hamann's long ball found Baros and his close control and shot was deflected to Gerrard to make it 2-1.
The Reds had two more chances to wrap the game up late on as Igor Biscan and late substitute Stephen Warnock missed golden opportunities to impress their new boss.
Baros' final teasing run saw Dunne bring him down and, after initially waving play on, referee Graham Poll consulted the linesman and sent the hapless Irishman for an early bath.
On the final whistle, a cautious Benitez congratulated his players, but he knows more is expected if they are to challenge the Premiership's best this season.