JOHN BRADLEY: Day one of the 2023-34 Premier League season.
Fresh anticipation, fresh hope, fresh faces as well.
And for Liverpool and Chelsea, fresh captains,
Reece James and Virgil van Dijk wearing the armbands for the first time competitively.
For Liverpool, there has been an evolution this summer,
a change of personnel in midfield mainly,
but they go into it with hope of better than what they did last season.
The same for Chelsea as well, who had a season blighted by injuries.
But for Liverpool and for Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister,
it's a new-look team.
Liverpool with Cody Gakpo as an extra midfielder today,
it's a very bold, attacking line-up,
with Mac Allister once again the holder
and Szoboszlai alongside him.
Chelsea with seven players ruled out through injury,
including Christopher Nkunku,
they have three new signings starting -
Sanchez in goal, Disasi and Nicolas Jackson
Szoboszlai, that's brilliant!
And the strike in the end was by Diogo Jota.
Szoboszlai wanted to go all the way on his own.
GARY GILLESPIE: He kind of gets forced into this run, not a great deal of options.
Jota just takes it off his foot.
In fairness, Jota was on his right foot,
probably the right thing to do, had he made good contact.
JOHN: Gakpo's done brilliantly well...
It's not the best pull-back, but here's Salah!
So close.
So, so close.
GARY: Gakpo does exceptionally well initially,
just lets himself down with the pass.
Everybpdy in the ground is shocked Salah has hit it with his right foot!
JOHN: It's a lovely ball - Alisson with a huge hand.
Just the fingertips as Jackson was closing in.
Szoboszlai, here's Mac Allister.
Glorious ball for Salah, off he goes,
Salah's pass - oh, stunning!
What a goal by Liverpool, that's absolutely brilliant.
Scintillating, incisive football and Liverpool lead at Stamford Bridge.
GARY: Breathtaking move, Liverpool somewhere near their best.
Starts at the goalkeeper, lovely layoff by Szoboszlai,
and what about this for a pass by Alexis Mac Allister?
Picks out Salah, and as he did all pre-season, he turns from goalscorer into the assist man.
What a ball, Diaz still has a bit to do but it's a lovely finish.
In general terms, Liverpool probably deserve that.
Alexander-Arnold has picked out Mohamed Salah,
and Mohamed Salah picks out the goal!
Liverpool have done it again, it's another stunning pass,
Alexander-Arnold to Salah, and it's 2-0.
Liverpool think they've got a second, but it's going to be very, very tight.
There you go, just offside.
Sterling.
And Alexander-Arnold, in one of those positions where the ball hits you
and you have to hope it doesn't go in.
GARY: The saving grace for Liverpool is they had plenty of bodies back.
JOHN: Chilwell...
And it's in, Axel Disasi, the debutant.
As the ball was recycled, Liverpool were caught cold from the setpiece,
and Chelsea - who have offered very little - are level.
GARY: The header is not a good one from Szoboszlai,
Chilwell puts it back in
and in fairness Disasi comes alive
and finishes well for a big centre-back.
JOHN: Enzo Fernandez, and Chilwell...
What a turnaround. Chelsea have scored twice in two minutes,
Ben Chilwell comes from nowhere to round Alisson.
GARY: Again we'll probably have to look at this one, but Chelsea think it's a goal.
JOHN: It looks offside - it is offside.
Liverpool survive, and that's a big, big letoff.
Reece James, and Jackson over the top.
He'd got away from Konate as well,
but he can't finish.
GARY: It's been their best source down that right side, whether Sterling or James,
the combination of the two causing Liverpool problems, and that's a big chance.
Should be doing better.
JOHN: Diogo Jota keeps this alive.
Van Dijk, could have a go, you know...
Will have a go!
And it's a whisker away from an outstanding goal.
Diogo Jota waiting as the ball is delivered by Robertson.
Cleared by Thiago Silva.
And... Oh, my word, how's that not gone in?
Luis Diaz thought he'd done everything right.
And somehow the ball is deflected away.
Liverpool are claiming, Anthony Taylor says they're going to have a quick look at this.
Oh, hello.
Darren England is the VAR official.
And they say no...
That's nice, look at the space here for Chilwell!
Well, he drove it straight at Alisson, and you have to do better to beat the big fella.
GARY: Well, Alisson comes to Liverpool's rescue again.
JOHN: Liverpool have given it away carelessly,
and Jackson trying to go all the way!
And is denied by Alisson.
Who again makes what was not a straightforward save look easy,
GARY: He is such an imposing figure.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is sloppy there and Jackson just keeps going.
JOHN: Gusto can't outmuscle Darwin Nunez,
who wants to win it for Liverpool!
Oh, my word, he's so close to doing so as well, and scoring an incredible winner.
GARY: That would be the icing on the cake, he wins the ball exceptionally well.
JOHN: A chance from the setpiece.
Robert Sanchez, really good take,
and now Chelsea want to go and win it.
Mudryk is in on goal, here comes Alisson...
Who does enough to force Mudryk wide, and then the challenge by Mac Allister is vital.
The battle on day one still ends the way
Liverpool and Chelsea games always seem to end, with honours even.
There were many great games between Pochettino and Klopp when he was at Spurs,
and today was another one that could have gone either way.