THE NOTEBOOK: Liverpool owner rarely appears, Mauricio Pochettino switches to the away dugout and Argentine aces flourish

Chelsea and Liverpool drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon as both sides began their 2023-24 Premier League season.

The visitors took the lead within 18 minutes, as Luis Diaz converted a sublime cross from Mohamed Salah to tap into Liverpool’s first.

The Egyptian almost doubled the lead soon after, going one-on-one with new Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez to put the ball into the back of the net, but the Liverpool striker was offside in the build-up.

Axel Disasi would pull one back for the blues in the 37th minute, taking advantage of a header into the penalty area to hit the ball past Alisson who came out to meet him. Ben Chilwell seemed to make it 2-1 for the home team two minutes later, but his goal was also checked by the VAR for offside.

Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was at Stamford Bridge and brings you some things you may have missed.

The Argentinian World Cup winners show their class

Only two goals in the end, but this game was as open as virtually everyone predicted in the first half, with neither team looking overly confident defensively – but the two standout players were both Argentina’s World Cup winning midfielders.

Alexis Mac Allister put in an admirable performance in the heart of Liverpool’s midfield, playing a deft pass to send Mo Salah running towards their goal, while the former Brighton man was kept out of possession in the number 6 role.

In the blue corner, compatriot Enzo Fernandez was man of the match and the show in midfield.

But it was minutely obvious that both teams were clamoring for an absolute keeper to anchor their midfield. Has anyone remembered that Moises boy from Brighton?

Liverpool owners rarely appear in London

Speaking of Caicedo, Liverpool owner John Henry flew in for a rare appearance at a Liverpool match – with fans hoping the American was induced to step up and sign a No. 6 after witnessing of often overrunning the Reds midfield.

Other fans joked that Henry and his co-star Todd Boehly should have a fight – with the winner signing Caicedo. Sadly, the Ecuadorian is looking set for Stamford Bridge, although Chelsea have failed to fulfill their desire to complete the signing in time for him to be here for the game.

Poch’s dugout renovations

Mauricio Pochettino has taken a leaf out of his idol Marcelo Bielsa’s book by making some miniscule changes at Chelsea this summer, one of which is swapping the dugouts.

Pochettino said he would feel at home in what was the hollow – which he patrolled with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur – as he swapped them believing the new home space is bigger, giving him more room to move up and down.

However, it didn’t stop him from charging onto the touchline to argue with the assistant referee.

The seventh consecutive stalemate

Seven consecutive clashes between Chelsea and Liverpool are now level after 90 minutes, ending a run of four goalless games in a row.

However, Liverpool won two on penalties, in the 2022 FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals.

This was the first time in Mo Salah’s Premier League career that he played in the opening weekend and failed to score.