Owen goal just enough for Reds - report

Michael Owen’s first-half goal gave Liverpool an away victory in the UEFA Cup third round, first leg in Holland.

But the striker missed three other gilt-edged chances when clean through 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.

Manager Gerard Houllier left out Dietmar Hamann, Emile Heskey, Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise - and only the latter could consider he was suffering because of poor form.

The surprise was Stephane Henchoz returning in central defence after just 45 minutes’ action in eight weeks following his calf operation.

Bruno Cheyrou and Salif Diao were given their chances in midfield while Milan Baros partnered Michael Owen up front, a reward for six goals in 15 appearances this season, mostly from the bench.

The futuristic Gelredome, a half-size version of Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, complete with roof, removable pitch and 30,000 seats, rocked with noise with Liverpool probably the biggest draw here since U2 and Britney Spears filled the venue for concerts.

Vitesse included 19-year-old Dutch youth international Theo Janssen, who is likely to be the next big sale from the club.

The home side had Liverpool pinned back in the early stages. Markus Babbel struggled early on, giving the ball away, while Henchoz was instantly forced into a string of challenges and the Anfield men looked unsettled.

Then on eight minutes Cheyrou limped off the pitch with what looked like a hamstring injury, and Vladimir Smicer was sent into the fray.

Liverpool’s midfield looked unbalanced. Steven Gerrard, making his first start since being publicly rebuked by Houllier, 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 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.

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 then rolled the ball into Owen’s path for the striker to coolly 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 onto the roof of the net.

Vitesse were now the side looking troubled and Purrel Frankel was booked for cutting down Gerrard after 35 minutes. Liverpool were exposing Vitesse, and from another move involving Owen, Baros and Murphy, Gerrard powered a 25-yard dipping shot over the crossbar.

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 getting clear shooting chances but failing to hit the target.

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 sit on the ground and pray 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.

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.

Afterwards Liverpool goalscorer Michael Owen declared himself “more than happy” with a 1-0 first-leg lead against Vitesse Arnhem in the UEFA Cup third round.

Owen insisted: “We limited them to a couple of chances, and we missed a couple of chances in the second half.

“Their keeper played well but we are more than happy with an away victory.

“We would prefer to win by a more comfortable margin but if you had offered us that beforehand I would have bitten your hand off.”