Liverpool open campaign with loss

Valencia 2, Liverpool 0

Liverpool were swept away by Valencia as they crumbled in the first half of their Champions League encounter at the Mestalla.

First-half goals by Pablo Aimar and Ruben Baraja gave the La Liga champions control of this Group B opener.

Michael Owen replaced El Hadji Diouf in the second-half, but despite a fightback, Valencia regained control of the game as the Reds were reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Dietmar Hamann.