The centre-back, signed from Monaco this summer, finished from close range shortly before half time to cancel out Luis Diaz's opening goal. And a point was the least we deserved for our performance.

A new beginning

There was a new look to our starting XI. With Kepa Arrizabalaga absent from the squad – Pochettino confirmed pre-match the goalkeeper is in talks over a move away from Stamford Bridge – summer signing Robert Sanchez started.

Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill formed a back three. Reece James and Ben Chilwell were the wing-backs. A midfield of Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher was deployed. And Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson formed the attack.

It was the visitors who started the brighter, however. Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai both saw early efforts drift wide before Mohamed Salah clipped the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the box.

We began to settle, and Jackson almost turned home a cross from captain Reece James. But Liverpool then broke the deadlock. Salah was the architect as his pass sliced through our backline and Luis Diaz finished.

A response was needed. Jackson tried to provide it. After excellent work on the touchline by Colwill, the ball was fed into the feet of forward. He managed to bounce off two challenges and fired toward goal. His effort, unfortunately, drifted wide.

It lifted the home support, which was vocal throughout. And one of the biggest roars of the afternoon came soon after. A Trent Alexander-Arnold pass was slipped through to Salah, who finished stylishly. Then came VAR: the goal was ruled out for offside.

The momentum swung our favour. Sterling did well down the byline and forced Alexander-Arnold into a clearance under his own crossbar. It proved a temporary reprieve.

From a Chelsea corner, the ball was recycled. And after another clearance was knocked back into the penalty area by Chilwell, Disasi was on hand to steer the ball beyond Alisson in the Liverpool goal.

Stamford Bridge erupted. The first goal of the Pochettino era had been scored.

Moments later, a second arrived as Fernandez played a pass through to Chilwell, and he rounded Alisson and tapped home. It was a wonderful goal but, on this occasion, VAR came to the aid of Liverpool.

The first-half action wasn't done there. There was an opportunity for Sanchez to show his reflexes as he got down to deny Salah. At the other end, Jackson guided a shot over the crossbar after another trademark James delivery.

There were no changes made at the break. Yet Pochettino's words resulted in Chelsea having more control of the ball the second period.

That enabled Fernandez to begin dictating possession and an excellent pass from the Argentine fashioned a shooting opportunity for Chilwell. His near-post effort was pushed clear by Alisson.

There were spells in which Liverpool tried to probe our backline. But the ball was often turned over in midfield and we countered at speed. Colwill produced one excellent pass forward for Jackson to race on to and he managed to get a shot on goal. Again, Alisson saved.

Both sides made attack-minded changes in the final 20 minutes. Neither head coach was willing to settle for the draw.

Liverpool came close: a late effort from Darwin Nunez took a deflection and beat the dive of Sanchez. Fortunately, the ball landed just wide of the Chelsea net.

And one final rapid counter led by Jackson ended with the ball being squared to substitute Ian Maatsen in the box. But he was unable to get a shot away under pressure and it meant an enthralling game at Stamford Bridge ended level.

What it means...

Our first point on the board this season. It could perhaps have been all three, but Pochettino will undoubtedly take positives from the display.

What comes next...

Our focus now switches to West Ham United. The Blues have a week to prepare for the clash, which takes place at the London Stadium next Sunday.

The teams

Chelsea: Sanchez; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill; James (Gusto, 75), Chukwuemeka (Maatsen, 80), Enzo, Gallagher, Chilwell (Ugochukwu, 89); Sterling (Mudryk, 80), Jackson

Unused: Bergstrom, Cucurella, Santos, Madueke, Burstow

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gakpo (Jones, 66), Szoboszlai; Salah (Doak, 76), Jota (Nunez, 66), Diaz (Elliott, 76)

Unused: Kelleher, Gomes, Matip, Tsimikas, McConnell