Owen on the mark as ’Pool snatch slim advantage

Vitesse Arnhem 0

But the England striker missed three other gilt-edged chances when clean through the Arnhem defence which would have given Liverpool a comfortable lead.

Instead they were on the backfoot for most of the game as they looked to cure themselves of a Champions League hangover.

Liverpool’s midfield looked unbalanced. Steven Gerrard was operating on the right with Smicer playing in an advanced role. It left a gaping hole in front of Diao, who had acres of space to cope with.

Baros’ sliced header from Murphy’s corner was the nearest Liverpool came to scoring in the opening exchanges. Murphy then drilled a 17th-minute free-kick straight into the wall but Arnhem’s defence - marshalled by former Sheffield Wednesday man Dejan Stefanovic - were coping well against Owen and Baros.

Gerrard showed something of his former self with a surging run at the heart of the home defence before being bundled down by Evgeniy Levchenko. It may have warranted a booking but Spanish referee Mejuto Gonzales did not get his yellow card out until the 22nd minute when Diao brought down Gert Claessens.

After 32 minutes Liverpool struck with a goal of real class. Smicer bravely won possession in midfield, Gerrard found Owen who pushed the ball back to his England team-mate and scuttled off towards the box.

Gerrard’s ball in was controlled and shielded expertly by Baros, who rolled the ball into Owen’s path for the striker to slot home from eight yards.

It could have been two after 34 minutes when another accomplished passing move ended with Owen retrieving the ball from the byline, tricking Tim Cornelisse and laying the ball back for Murphy to fire over from 12 yards.

A minute later Murphy stole in as a free-kick dropped into the box and sent a neat looping header agonisingly Liverpool were exposing Vitesse, and from another move involving Owen, Baros and Murphy, Gerrard powered a 25-yard dipping shot over the crossbar.

Sami Hyypia received a nasty kick in the face from Matthew Amoah’s boot, and it was a relief for Liverpool fans to see him emerge from the dressing room for the second half.

Just as in the first half, Vitesse started the second period quicker to the ball. One lofted cross into the box forced Djimi Traore into a high, looping header which Jerzy Dudek had to pull down from beneath his own bar.

Owen could have given Liverpool some breathing space when he broke into the box from the right, but Jevric smothered his 59th-minute shot.

However, Vitesse were getting closer to an equaliser, with Frankel and Emile Mbamba both missing clear shooting chances.

Then Claessens had a close-range stab, but the shot was deflected enough for Dudek to claim the ball.

Henchoz had to hurl himself at Cornelisse’s low cross after a flowing move by the home side.

Liverpool broke in the 66th minute and again Owen should have scored. Baros got away and found the England striker racing through the middle. Jevric saved his first effort but could only watch as Owen’s follow-up effort crept an inch wide of an open goal.

It got worse for Owen after 68 minutes when he was through on goal again - but saw Jevric save again. In the ensuing scramble Gerrard’s chip towards an empty net was headed away by Stefanovic.

Claessens headed over from Rahamat Mustapha’s cross and the game was on a knife-edge with Liverpool escaping on the break but Vitesse searching for the equaliser.

Heskey came on for Baros after 74 minutes, with the home side throwing on Kalle Sone and Eldridge Rojer for Frankel and Mbamba three minutes later.

Eight minutes from time Liverpool somehow survived when Mustapha hit the post and Sone found himself with an open net to roll the ball into - but somehow contrived to miss from six yards.

Dudek made another excellent save from Claessens from close range in injury-time as Liverpool held on to their slim first-leg advantage.

VITESSE: Jevric, Cornelisse, Stefanovic, Frankel, Mustapha Riga, Claessens, Mbamba, Levtsjenko, Amoah, Zeman, Van Beukering.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore, Murphy, Gerrard, Diao, Cheyrou, Owen, Baros.