For all the steel-and-velvet excellence of Andrei Shevchenko and bright promise of Salomon Kalou in Chelsea's attacking surges, Liverpool thoroughly deserved this victory. Never a work of great art, the Community Shield went through a brief blue period, particularly when Shevchenko was rampaging around either side of half-time, but otherwise Cardiff again belonged to Liverpool.
The FA Cup holders fielded the game's class act in Momo Sissoko, who took the sight of a Chelsea player in possession as a personal affront. Echoes of Patrick Vieira reverberated in every tackle, every break made by the rangy Sissoko.
Rafa Benitez, such a shrewd operator in the market place, also appears to have recruited well in wide fliers Jermaine Pennant, Mark Gonzalez and Fabio Aurelio, plus the bullish striker, Craig Bellamy. If Jose Mourinho's side remain odds-on to retain the Premiership, Benitez's hungry team at least have a deeper pool of talent with which to challenge them.
The Merseysiders also deserved to prevail because their supporters turned out in force, lending a rare lustre to the Community Shield. Large gaps scarred the Chelsea end, almost as embarrassing and extensive as the expanses that John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch exploited in scoring Liverpool's goals.
For those Chelsea fans who did make the trek, Shevchenko was worth the expense and effort. Many qualities have been bought for £30 million, notably stealth and intelligence, an adhesive touch and the confidence of a serial finisher, as seen with his first-half strike.
Chelsea fans were also treated to a glimpse of Mourinho's 4-1-2-3 formation, which allowed Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack (briefly) to roam forward in front of the anchoring Michael Essien (who did well as Claude Makelele's deputy). Shevchenko switched between the three prongs of Chelsea's attack, also dropping deep to good effect.
Until Shevchenko had Roman Abramovich doing a jig in his corporate box, the first half proved bleak for Chelsea. Liverpool had settled by far the quicker, given width by Gonzalez and cohesion by Sissoko.
Such was Sissoko's early control that Ballack hit him with a late tackle.
Sissoko responded by catching the German: Welcome to England - or Wales. Liverpool's brio was embodied marvelously by Riise in the ninth minute, who seized possession following a Chelsea corner and embarked on an extraordinary odyssey up the Millennium pitch.
For 15 seconds, the Norwegian left-back raced down the right and then moved inside, all the while relishing the bizarre decision by Chelsea, and John Terry in particular, to back off him. Soon, Carlo Cudicini's goal was within range and Riise let fly, the dip and speed of the ball deceiving the Italian.
Frustration ate into Chelsea's souls. Only Essien and Shevchenko seemed at ease. Ballack then hurt a hip and eventually departed, being replaced by the lively Kalou.
The versatile Ivory Coast player invigorated Chelsea, running at Liverpool players, signaling his danger with a lovely trick to guide the ball around Riise. Yet Liverpool were still threatening, and Cudicini made partial amends for his earlier error with a magnificent save from Luis Garcia.
Yet Kalou's presence began to stretch Liverpool's defence, creating space for Shevchenko. Moments after one failed Shevchenko attack, which had the touring Kopites chanting "who are you?", the Ukrainian came visiting again, released by a brilliant Lampard pass. With Steve Finnan slow to react, Shevchenko controlled the ball and placed it nervelessly past Jose Reina. "Who are you" chortled Chelsea's followers.
Liverpool enjoyed the last laugh. Aurelio dinked the ball down the left and Bellamy was away, creating space to cross past Ricardo Carvalho for Crouch to head home. Having failed to pick up Crouch, Terry sought to make amends by serving as an emergency centre-forward alongside Shevchenko.
Defeat was a reminder that Chelsea may not have everything their own way this season, but the enduing presence of Terry and the breath-taking, goal-taking purchase of Shevchenko make Mourinho's champions still the team to beat.