Riise goal sinks Villa

Owen`s second-half spot-kick was saved by the impressive Peter Enckelman, but the England man`s blushes were saved by Riise`s earlier effort that gave the Villa keeper no chance.

Riise took advantage of a sweeping Liverpool counter-attack to slam a low shot past Enckelman on 47 minutes.

Villa had chances before and after the goal, with Marcus Allback particularly wasteful, but Liverpool did just enough to claim the points, with their defence continuing on from last year with another clean sheet.

Liverpool started the match brightly, with new signing El Hadji Diouf looking sharp in the opening exchanges.

Villa, though, were not overawed and showed bright attacking instincts themselves.

New signing Ulises de la Cruz showed great pace down the right to test the Liverpool defence, while Darius Vassell, given the nod despite talk of him being dropped, was a real handful for the Liverpool defence.

The Villans were unlucky not to take the lead on 20 minutes, with Jerzy Dudek making a fine tip onto the bar. As the ball bounced around, Villa hit the post before The Reds scrambled clear.

Villa turned the screw, Vassell jinked and beat his man down the left, but his cross was cleared by the defence.

The home side threatened to upset Liverpool, with Peter Crouch going close and Gareth Barry seeing a fine curling effort grabbed by Dudek.

The game had great shape and balance, and Liverpool swept onto the attack and forced a corner.

A well-worked set-piece found Steven Gerrard in space, the England man sent in a fine cross that should have garnered a goal, but Diouf scooped over the bar from six yards.

England striker Owen was on the periphery of the action for the most part. He showed a glimpse of his best on 36 minutes when beating his marker with ease, but saw his effort well saved by Enckelman.

The second period followed the same path as the first, with chances at both ends.

De La Cruz crossed well, but Lee Hendrie scuffed the effort and Liverpool punished Villa with a slick break that brought the opening goal.

The ball fell to Danny Murphy and he went on a direct run before playing in Riise who took advantage of a slip by Mark Delaney to shoot low past Enckelman.

Villa attempted to push for an equaliser, but their game became ragged and Riise almost took advantage of a sloppy piece of play but was denied by a stretching Enckelman.

Villa`s main threat was England ace Vassell, but he lacked support as he took the fight to Liverpool.

Diouf`s radar was awry on his opening Premiership encounter, as he smashed over the bar from 12 yards.

Dietmar Hamann was almost the recipient of a huge slice of luck as his shot took a wicked deflection that left Enckelman stranded but looped over the bar.

Villa boss Graham Taylor threw on Swedish Marcus Allback to aid Vassell and the former Heerenveen man should have equalised with 15 minutes remaining, but scuffed his volley wide when unmarked 10 yards out.

Allback should have been made to pay for his profligacy when Gerrard took a sweeping Sami Hyypia pass in his stride and was felled in the box by Barry. However, Owen slammed his spot-kick straight at Enckelman.

That was the last contribution from Owen, as he was replaced by Emile Heskey.

Villa`s efforts to snatch a draw were met by the impressive Liverpool defence and they stood firm to claim the points.