Olimpija Ljubljana 1-1 Liverpool
A Michael Owen goal helped Liverpool to a draw in the Slovenian capital in Liverpool's first European game of the new season.
The goal was Owen's 21st in European competition for Liverpool, which saw the Reds' number 10 break Ian Rush's record.
Owen thought he had the record in the first half after squeezing home a shot from a tight angle after a Vladimi Smicer effort had been parried by the 'keeper, but he was ruled to have been offside when Smicer's shot was struck and an otherwise uneventful first half ended goalless.
The second half saw more action in front of goal, and both Kewell and GErrard were unlucky not to give Liverpool an early second half lead.
Kewell curled an excellent free kick over the Ljubljana defensive wall and the ball seemed destined to drop in the far bottom corner, but the keeper made a fine save to top the ball out for a corner, and a precise side footed Steven Gerrard shot from 25 yards out also looked to be heading for the bottom corner until the keeper got the slightest of touches to the ball but enough to divert the shot wide of the post.
For the first time in the match, Liverpool looked set to enjoy a period of dominance in the game, but that changed on 66 minutes when the home side went ahead.
Jusufbeaovic picked up the ball just outside the area, after Olimpija had won possession when a Gerrard pass had been intercepted, and his shot struck the post with the ball dropping in front of Anton Zlogar, who was left with an easy finish.
Liverpool struggled to create many clear cut chances in the final quarter of the game, though one which they did create was finished well enough by Owen on 77 minutes to give the Reds a priceless away goal.
It wasn't a pretty display but Liverpool did what was required and they will now be red hot favourites to complete their passage into round two of the competition.
The second leg at Anfield takes place on October 15.
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