Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool started the season with a well deserved three points thanks to a John Arne Riise goal early in the second half.
After a bright opening, Liverpool were forced back into their own half for large parts of the first half, and an excellent Jerzy Dudek save midway through the half after a scramble in the Liverpool area, was required to keep the game scoreless.
El Hadji Diouf was a threat throughout the game, winning a number of free kicks, although referee Andy D'Urso seemed exteremely reluctant to give any decision in favour of the Senegalese striker, who was booked for dissent early in the match after nothing had been given for a foul on him.
And it was Diouf who had Liverpool's first real chance, but from just 6 yards out he fired well over the bar.
Owen could have opened the scoring soon after, but after winning the ball in the Villa penalty area, Owen saw his shot excellently saved by Peter Enckelman.
But despite edging the first half, Villa found themselves outclassed in the second half and were soon behind.
An attack by Villa was eventually cleared by Riise and Gerrard, and a 50 yard run by Murphy followed, before he slipped the ball to Riise, and the Norweigan found the bottom corner of the goal between the post and the 'keeper's foot. It was a similar finish to the goal which Riise scored at Highbury last season.
Another chance by Owen could have soon doubled the lead, but was deflected over the bar by a Villa defender, and Owen later had an opportunity to get his first goal of the season from the penalty spot, but his spot kick was saved by the legs of Enckelman.
Villa rarely looked like netting an equaliser, and Liverpool held out comfortably for three points.
