Jurgen Klopp certainly knew what he was talking about ahead of this fractious fixture.
“Being ambitious in this league means you have to be ready to get some knocks,” said the Liverpool manager. “You have to be ready to get some punches here and there, you just have to get up and go again.”
He was, of course, talking about his own team.
But the notion is universal, and both the Reds and Chelsea demonstrated resolve in abundance to scrap out a stalemate that underlined why both can expect to be involved in the Premier League title race for the majority of the season.
Of course, with the Londoners having played just over half of the game with 10 men, this will be considered a missed opportunity for Klopp’s side to land an early blow on one of their rivals.
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But that Liverpool came from behind to ensure their unbeaten league run is extended to 13 games highlights their own powers of recovery are very much intact.
Chelsea, ahead through Kai Havertz’s acrobatic header, may have whined and moaned, but replays underlined even lamentable referee Anthony Taylor couldn’t fail to award a spot kick and dismiss Reece James in first-half injury time for scooping a goalbound Sadio Mane effort away from goal with his right arm.
There was more than an echo of events at Stamford Bridge last season, when Andreas Christensen was eventually red-carded for bringing down Mane just before the break.
As here, the scores were level at the break, although in differing circumstances as Mohamed Salah ignored the kerfuffle around him to smash home from the spot.
The introduction of Thiago Alcantara for the injured Jordan Henderson that afternoon helped swing the game in Liverpool’s favour.
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This time, the substitution was made with only 16 minutes remaining after the Reds had exhausted efforts to find a way past busy Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The defensive solidity imposed under Thomas Tuchel means arguably no side is better prepared to cope with losing a man than this Chelsea, and the celebrations of the visitors on the pitch and in the away end at the final whistle were in contrast to the disgruntled groans from the Reds faithful.
No reason, though, to feel too downhearted. Liverpool played well for the most part against, lest we forget, the European champions and there was plenty of encouragement.
This was just the first battle of many that will determine the season, neither side able to land the knockout punch. Seconds out, on to the next round.
