The Champions twice had to come from behind to snatch a point from a 2-2 draw.
And Roberto Mancini’s had to rely on some dodgy defending to get them out of a fix against a feisty home side that was in visiting faces for most of the afternoon.
Martin Skrtel fired Liverpool ahead for the first time and Luis Suarez on the second occasion only for Yaya Toure and then Carlos Tevez to reply for City.
Home hero Skrtel was the villain who gifted Tevez the final goal of the game with an error that would have made a schoolboy blush.
The Blues arrived in Liverpool as the Premier League champions but without a win in their last nine visits in the league.
But they had never before been up against a new manager in only his second game in charge and facing a Reds side in something of a slump.
Thirty-seven points separated the teams in the table last season and Liverpool went into this match having lost heavily to West Brom on the opening day. Amazingly they had suffered 10 losses in their previous 15 EPL contests.
Mancini made changes to personnel and system after the unconvincing 3-2 win over Southampton last Sunday relegating title winning stalwarts Joleon Lescott and David Silva to the bench along with new signing Jack Rodwell.
In came James Milner and Nigel de Jong to stiffen the central area while Mario Balotelli started his first game of the season in place of the injured Sergio Aguero.
Gael Clichy was absent to be with his wife who gave birth before the contest.
The Frenchman’s non-appearance didn’t prevent Mancini from fielding a back three that was more a statement of attacking intent than any negativity - a belief that was borne out by the pace of the game from both sides and the amount of goalmouth action.
Indeed it was a joy to see two sides attempting to get hold of the ball and simultaneously ally it to both lung and brainpower.
The action ebbed to and fro pleasantly. Borini went close for Liverpool when he darted between defenders but guided a near post effort inches wide in front of The Kop and then Tevez almost netted from a tight angle for City hitting the far post after going around Reina.
Tevez and the City fans packed into Anfield were well justified in enquiring why no one was following up. The Argentinian, in fact, looked at Mario Balotelli as if asking that very question.
Vincent Kompany was relieved to slice a wonderful Gerrard cross over his own bar but the relief was frustratingly short-lived when Skrtel headed the home side in front with a wonderful, bullet -header from a corner.
City lacked width and pace at times and were finding Liverpool’s engine room firing on all cylinders. Mancini’s second half substitutions changed the complexion of the contest.
First Yaya Toure took advantage of Kelly’s mistake to fire City level but no sooner had the cheers stopped from the corner of the Anfield Road end than Suarez had restored Pool’s lead with a free kick awarded for a dodgy handball against Rodwell.
Still we all know the Blues like a challenge and when Skrtel didn’t look behind him when attempting an 80th minute back pass, Tevez said thank you and scored with aplomb to move on to 49 Premier League goals for City.
It was a point hard earned.
