Hugo Ekitike gave the Premier League champions an early lead, which was cancelled out by Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 17th-minute spot-kick.
A cross-turned-shot from Jeremie Frimpong put Arne Slot’s Reds ahead again, though they were pegged back in the second half by Ismaila Sarr to leave the curtain-raiser 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.
It would ultimately be decided through a shootout, where the holders of the Emirates FA Cup prevailed 3-2.
Team
Four summer signings – Ekitike, Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez – made their competitive debuts from the start, while Alisson Becker returned after sitting out the final two games of pre-season.
Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez (Robertson, 87), Wirtz (Elliott, 87), Szoboszlai, Salah, Jones (Endo, 71), Gakpo, Ekitike (Mac Allister, 71), Frimpong.
Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Chiesa, Nyoni, Doak, Ngumoha.
First half
Liverpool started as they meant to go on as Ekitike delivered a brilliant opener inside four minutes.
After one-two with Wirtz, the No.28 spun on the edge of the box and slotted into the far corner of Dean Henderson’s net with a powerful side-foot.
But that lead only lasted 13 minutes before Mateta dispatched his effort from 12 yards out, awarded for Virgil van Dijk tripping Sarr inside the area. Moments before the equaliser, Alisson had successfully thwarted the goalscorer in a one-on-one.
Frimpong soon restored the Reds’ advantage, however. Receiving a switch from Dominik Szoboszlai and then racing past Tyrick Mitchell, the full-back intended to pick out those of his teammates in a threatening area, only to slice the delivery and watch it drift over Henderson.
