Riise saves Owen's blushes at Villa

It is an accusation Taylor does not like, and, by suggesting players look at themselves, he might not be conatsidered to be helping the bonding.

Yet this was not, in fact, the rhythmic Liverpool of the end of last season. Gerard Houllier has revealed that he sees his team as a puzzle with various pieces still to be slotted in - players returning from injury, some new to the club and others working on harmonious organisation.

In Owen's case, you might add seeking 100 per cent fitness. He has said he was only 60 per cent during the World Cup, and, on yesterday's evidence and that of the Community Shield, he has advanced to no more than 75 per cent during the course of the summer.

This must be cause for some concern to Sven Goran Eriksson, who watched this game with a view to the forthcoming international against Portugal in this same stadium.

If the England manager was disappointed with Owen's performance, however, there were other lasers of light and hope, not least from Liverpool's midfield where Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard were in commanding form.

Gerrard gave his side the drive and assurance that made you sigh about what might have been if he been fit to get among the Brazilians in Japan. His aggression allied to his ability to see and deliver the early pass mark him a man apart.

One of the players likely to benefit from his silver service

is El Hadji Diouf, who may be prone to the theatrical when tackled but who has the close control and pace that will create havoc once he adjusts to the Premiership. He is a genuine handful.

Villa have no such commanding figure. If they are to get the best this season out of Darius Vassell and use his breathtaking pace to fullest effect, they need the kind of creative midfielder missing in their side yesterday.

Yet they had their chances. Steve Staunton's double effort midway through the first half - one against the bar, one deflected on to the post - almost upset his old club, but Diouf should have made the task easier for Liverpool when he mis-hit an effort at the far post.

Owen's contribution was peripheral, though one trademark turn inside Olaf Mellberg and shot produced a fine save from Enckelman.

The match was won two minutes into the second half with Murphy producing the cameo of the game, a dazzling 40-yard run from the halfway line to release Riise and the young ginger-haired star, not 22 until next month, took advantage of a slip by Mark Delaney to drive the ball inside the near post.

Both he and Diouf were then denied further glory, and that failure to build might have proved costly for Liverpool had Swedish international Markus Allback, coming on as a substitute to make his Villa debut, not mis-hit a flicked on centre from Ulises de la Cruz.

Owen should have made the game safe in the 78th minute after Gareth Barry had brought down Gerrard only to see his penalty cannon off Enckelman's leg. It wasn't his day.