Highlights: The best of the action at Anfield
Diogo Jota’s emphatic 13th-minute finish put the Reds ahead in front of around 40,000 fans, but Alejandro Berenguer equalised for the visitors eight minutes into the second half.
An ankle injury forced Andy Robertson off shortly before the break, but an otherwise positive afternoon saw Virgil van Dijk start and play around 70 minutes.
The opening stages were played out amid a party-like atmosphere as the Kop joyfully ran through its songbook.
There was a pleasing rhythm to Liverpool’s early work on the pitch too - and they got the goal Anfield craved with 13 minutes on the clock.
A high press forced an error out of Athletic, with Naby Keita regaining the ball and quickly feeding Sadio Mane. The No.10 cushioned a lay-off into Jota’s path and the Portuguese did the rest, drilling a low left-footed shot into the far corner.
It was nearly two almost immediately.
Mane produced an exquisite turn and pass from inside his own half that freed Mohamed Salah, who in turn found Jota with a cross. This time, though, his finish was cleared off the line.
Trent Alexander-Arnold had Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala at full stretch to palm away his 20-yard curler, with Alisson Becker then called into action for the first time at the other end – the Brazilian coming out on top in a duel with Inaki Williams.
Chances were coming with regularity for Liverpool and Salah was next. The No.11 cut inside from the right in trademark fashion before looking to bend his shot beyond Agirrezabala, who did well to claw the ball to safety.
Another Alisson save thwarted Williams prior to Robertson hobbling off in the closing minutes of an action-packed first half.
Eight minutes after the restart, Athletic drew level.
Williams dribbled inside off the left with intent and found Oihan Sancet, whose low delivery was converted at the back post by Berenguer.
A patient passing sequence from Liverpool could have resulted in the retaking of the lead midway through the second period.
Keita opted to speed the move up by riding two challenges on the edge of the area and slipping Mane in, but the Senegalese’s blast was beaten away by Agirrezabala.
Harvey Elliott went even closer with 15 minutes remaining, the teenager showcasing neat footwork in drifting in off the right before curling a near-perfect effort off the angle of post and bar, but the game finished all square.