There was never any doubt that Manchester City and Liverpool would go for each other's throats on their return to action, but the nature of the game still took many by surprise.
Ahead of the resumption of the Premier League on Boxing Day, both sides would have been keen to get up to speed as quickly as possible, and that's exactly what both did.
City ended up running out deserved 3-2 winners, and created many more chances in the game.
It took Erling Haaland just 10 minutes to open the scoring when he fired in from Kevin De Bruyne's cross, with the Belgian predictably superb as he put his nation's disappointing World Cup behind him.
To their credit though, Liverpool stayed in the game, and they levelled 10 minutes later.
Former City man James Milner dragged the ball back from right-back, and youngster Fabio Carvalho was on hand to roll home a Liverpool equaliser they had scarcely looked like scoring.
The goal had come against the run of play, but it set up a remarkable start to the second period.
First Riyad Mahrez's brilliant close control led to him firing past Caoimhin Kelleher to restore City's lead, only for Darwin Nunez to immediately tee up Mohamed Salah to level the scores with his third goal in three appearances against City this season.
It was left to Nathan Ake to seal the win for City, with the Dutch defender nodding home just before the hour mark.
The final half hour was played at a frenzied pace and in a competitive spirit, with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp embracing on the touchline and discussing what they were seeing in front of them.
Before the game, both clubs had pleaded for better behaviour in the stands following ugly scenes during the Premier League meeting in October, and while on the pitch there was a feisty element to the game as Fabinho and Rodri clashed, come full-time there was nothing but respect on show.
As City star De Bruyne, the outstanding player on the pitch, looked as though he was struggling with something approaching exhaustion, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson approached the Belgian and offered a hand to him, embracing him and seeing if he was okay.
De Bruyne, who looked shattered, rose to his feet and hugged Henderson, with the clear respect between the two men on show.
Goalscorer Ake said after the game: "The last week has been a bit strange, people coming back at different times then straight into having to play an intense game against Liverpool and it's not easy.
"They have top quality players, we should've done better with the goals but we manged to score more than them. There are things to improve but for the first game back it was good. It was another top, top ball from Kevin [De Bruyne] and I had to score that one.
"You've been away for a month and the national team is different, then suddenly you are straight back in it. Strange but good, as a player you want to be involved in major tournaments like that."
