ASTON VILLA 1 - 2 LIVERPOOL

GERRARD GETS REDS OFF TO A FLIER

For the first time in five years Liverpool have got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start after an impressive 2-1 victory at Villa Park.

Steven Gerrard was again the hero, curling home an 87th minute free kick winner just seconds after Gareth Barry's penalty had cancelled out Martin Laursen's first half own goal.

The game appeared to be slipping away from the Reds when Barry slotted home from the penalty spot, but the genius of Gerrard again saved Liverpool and secured their first victory on the opening day since 2002.

Considering the striking options now available to Benitez it was somewhat ironic to see our first goal of the campaign crash into the net off the leg of a defender, but it was no surprise at all to see both strikers heavily involved.

After the impressive Fernando Torres had been denied a debut goal by Stuart Taylor's fine save, the ball fell into the path of Dirk Kuyt who wasted no time in whipping the ball back across the face of goal where the unfortunate Martin Laursen inadvertently diverted the ball into his own goal.

The lead was no more than the Reds deserved after an impressive opening which could have brought a reward even earlier.

Torres fired the game's first shot in anger over the goal after a powerful charge into the box while captain Steven Gerrard - starting in his preferred central midfield role - tested Taylor with a low drive towards the far corner.

Villa rallied after the break with Riise forced to clear under pressure after a mazy run by Ashley Young and then Nigel Reo-Coker fired wide of Reina's goal from outside the area.

Liverpool should have doubled their lead after an hour when Gerrard latched onto Kuyt's pass into the area but just when it seemed inevitable the ball would be nestling into the back of the net Taylor got in the way of the shot to keep it out.

The skipper had another chance midway through the half when Torres sprayed the ball wide after another clever piece of individual play, but when the ball arrived at Gerrard's feet his first time effort was superbly stopped by an increasingly overworked Taylor.

Ryan Babel was introduced soon after to make his debut and should have made the perfect start when a glorious chance fell his way after 75 minutes, but the young Dutchman dragged his shot disappointingly wide.

Villa grabbed themselves a lifeline after 84 minutes when Jamie Carragher was adjudged to have handled in the area and Barry made no mistake from the spot, sending Reina the wrong way.

But just as the home fans were celebrating an unlikely point, Liverpool responded in the perfect fashion when Gerrard did what only Gerrard can do - and rescued the Reds with a wonderful curling, dipping free kick which found the top corner of the Villa net. Sheer class.

It may only be three points on the board after one game played, but at least the Reds have already begun to deliver on their pledge to make a flying start to the new campaign.

BOSS NOT FEELING THE PRESSURE

Rafa Benitez has laughed off suggestions Liverpool are under pressure to win the league this season following a busy summer in the transfer market.

The Spaniard believes he has built a team that can now challenge for the league title, but he denies it will be a disaster if the 17-year wait is not ended this time around. "Who is under more pressure?" said Benitez. "Ferguson for winning the league and spending big money, Mourinho for finishing second and spending big money over three years, or Wenger for losing Thierry Henry and not winning the title for some years? "We are all under pressure. I don't want to seem arrogant, but when I was at Valencia they had gone 31 years without winning the league, and then we won it and won it again. "Why? Because I had very good staff and good players. Now, I continue having a good staff and better players. "Hopefully we can now win the league. I don't want to say it's this season because I don't want to make any promises. But I can say we have a better squad, a better team and are working hard. I have confidence and if the new players can settle in quickly, we'll have more of a chance."

HANSEN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEW SEASON

Kop legend Alan Hansen believes it is imperative Liverpool get as many points on the board as possible in the opening weeks of the season if they are to close the gap on Man Utd and Chelsea.

The centre-back turned pundit insists the Reds now have what it takes to be serious title challengers – but only if they have learned from mistakes made at the start of last season. "It really is imperative to get off to a good start. A couple of good performances and results against Villa and Chelsea will send confidence soaring through the club," the Scot told LFC Magazine. "You then take that momentum to Sunderland, which again is not a place you want to be going early in the season. "We have to avoid last year's situation. Losing five of our first six away games meant the championship was effectively over for Liverpool. What we all want is for us to be still in with a chance around Christmas and then as we get into March. "Of course, it would be the creme de la creme if we could win it, but first of all let's give ourselves a real chance of doing that by being in a position where the supporters turn up to Anfield in March with aspirations of still winning the Premier League." Hansen believes Rafa Benitez has assembled a far more formidable squad than in any of his three years at Anfield. "We've said for some time now that we keep relying on Steven Gerrard to get us out of trouble. The manager has said we need a variation of tactics and that is what he is trying to deliver. "The extra width provided by players such as Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun should provide tremendous variation. "If you're defending balls through the middle all the time, it becomes easy to play against. But if you can play it through the middle, wide, long and short, it becomes very difficult to play against. "Without a shadow of a doubt this is the strongest squad the manager has assembled in his three years at Liverpool. If you compare it to the one that went to Istanbul, it's like night and day. This is a much better side."

XABI: TITLE TALK IS POINTLESS

Xabi Alonso believes it is too soon to start speculating on which teams will be involved in the title race.

The Spanish midfielder admits Liverpool are better equipped to mount a serious challenge this time around. However, he insists he is looking no further than this afternoon's curtain raiser at Villa Park. "We are all now glad that pre-season is over and we are looking forward very much to the new season and the game at Aston Villa," he said. "We have worked very hard now for several weeks and we are in good condition. Everyone is ready, and everyone is available. "I know everyone is asking us already about the title race, and I understand that. But I would prefer to just consider each game and hope that we can put together the performances we need. "Over the last three years we have sometimes lacked consistency away from home and we have not always started the season well. "Now we have to look at those sort of games, and the way we start a season, and make sure we improve. I feel now that we have the squad to do that."