For Vinnie read Veron, for Wisey read Jimmy. The class of ’92 has been matched this afternoon as a glorious 2-1 opening Premiership win brought Chelsea’s version of the holy grail – a win at Anfield.

Just to make it even sweeter bearing in mind the manner of our defeats here in the last two seasons, the winning goal came with everyone looking at their watches and planning their routes home.

Who would you rather have latching on to a pass on the edge of area with the game up for grabs than Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? That is exactly who was in the right place at the right time when Lampard played the ball forward with three minutes go.

Winning his personally battle with Carragher, he stepped to the right and then beat Dudek without even switching on the full power.

Anfield fell deathly silent bar the celebrating Chelsea fans, just as it had done in the 24th minute when we first took the lead. This time the silence was even more poignant as up until that point, the Kop had been exercising its collective lung by raining boos down on Juan Sebastian Veron, his recent past not about to be forgotten.

Nor will his first Chelsea goal be forgotten in a hurry either. The ball was played out from the back and Lampard spun it wide for Gronkjaer to chase.

Making up the ground comfortably, the flying Dane drove a great first-time low cross into the Kop End penalty area where Veron's shot was hit as sweet as a Black Forest gateau.

Ironically, Gronkjaer’s incision was made just seconds after he and Duff had swapped wings. The left-footed Duff had started on the right for the first time in a Chelsea shirt but with the understandings on both wings not totally in tune, the switch was warranted and successful.

The creative Veron’s lovely first time ball almost led to a 2-0 half-time lead when he sent Eidur Gudjohnsen clear. There was a suspicion of offside but not in the mind of the linesman who kept his flag down. Unfortunately, Gudjohnsen also kept his attempted lift over Dudek down a couple of inches too much and a great chance went wide.

This win was no cruise and nor was it ever likely to be. The Chelsea goal came under threat as early as the second minute when Cudicini stretched well to keep out Murphy and then in the period leading up to our opener, Kewell outstripped the otherwise excellent Terry for pace but flashed his shot across the face of the goal.

When the Aussie debutant found Owen in space, Cudicini saved well again. Kewell also volleyed a clearance from a corner just wide on the stroke of half-time.

The second-half began in a more cagey fashion but then became a story of penalties and penalty appeals.

It’s a sign of changing times when Liverpool have three appeals turned down in front of the Kop, the strongest of which being Bridge’s hand making contact to a bouncing ball as he turned to clear. At the fourth attempt however, Liverpool were successful.

Diouf, a second-half sub had begun to make in-roads down our right, and William Gallas replaced Johnson with just under a quarter of the game to go to shore up that side.

However with an echo of Chelsea’s opening goal, Diouf had moved to the other side when Bridge brought him down and the spot-kick was awarded.

Owen lamely scooped his shot kick and the win seemed assured but then to the sheer incredulity of the Chelsea team, the kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment.

Owen was unlikely to fail twice and this time the ball crashed into the roof of the net.

There was now quarter-of-an-hour to hang on for the pessimists or win it for the optimists.

Heskey swung over a dangerous cross and Gronkjaer stooped to head behind as the tension mounted.

But then with the seconds disappearing fast, Chelsea once more worked the ball up field and the crucial ball was played in the direction of Hasselbaink, on as a half-time replacement for Gudjohnsen.

Surely the heroic effort wouldn’t be blown now. Cudicini had to smartly gather a Hyypia header in the dying seconds to prevent a repeat of the last two season’s heartbreak but we were not to be denied.

Forget big signings as a statement of intent, what greater way to announce a new Chelsea than to pull off only our third win at Liverpool since the war and to inflict their first home opening day defeat since 1962

M-O-T-M=John Terry