"If we were more clinical in front
of goal then we could have won
4-2 or 5-3."
Gerard Houllier

AUGUST 9
Houllier positive in defeat

By Chris Maxwell - LFC Online

Gerard Houllier believes that today's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Valencia could easily have been a '4-2 or 5-3' victory if the Reds had been more clinical in front of goal.

England pair Michael Owen and Emile Heskey both spurned guilt-edged chances in the first-half when the game was delicately balanced at 0-0, while Valencia shot-stopper Andres Palop was also in fine form.

The Anfield faithful left with a feeling of frustration so often felt during last season's miserable home run, but Houllier insists that he was satisfied with the performance of his team.

Houllier said: "We created the best chances and we had enough chances to win the game. We had five in the first half and six good chances in the second, but Valencia were more clinical.

"They are a good side and scored the second goal on the break after Harry Kewell had almost scored.

"Emile had some good chances after great passing from Danny Murphy and Michael had some good chances too. If we were more clinical in front of goal then we could have won 4-2 or 5-3."

AUGUST 9
Liverpool fall to Valencia

BBC Sport Online

Valencia comfortably beat Liverpool as their former manager Claudio Ranieri watched from the stands.

Ranieri's new-look Chelsea play Liverpool next weekend and will hope that Gerard Houllier's side will be as wasteful in front of goal.

While Liverpool struggled in front of goal, Valencia showed much more composure as goals from Vicente and Xisco Munoz in each half gave the Spanish side a deserved win.

Liverpool unveiled Harry Kewell and Steve Finnan, who started on the bench, in front of 43,000-plus crowd at Anfield.

Soon after a 10th-minute miss by Emile Heskey, Valencia went were ahead when Vicente cut in from the right to fire a rising, angled drive over the head of Jerzy Dudek.

Liverpool's response was commendable. Kewell, ghosting from flank to flank, was only fractionally away from turning Steven Gerrard's 21st-minute cross home with a diving header.

And Michael Owen expertly brought down a Gerrard pass to clip a 24th-minute effort inches wide of the far post.

Another Liverpool chance went begging when Heskey rose to head a Murphy free kick against a post and send the rebound over the bar with another header.

Valencia responded with a shot of their own against the woodwork a minute later, Ruben Baraja seeing a curling drive crack against an upright.

The second half saw two immediate changes, Finnan on for his home debut in place of Jamie Carragher while Djimi Traore replaced skipper Sami Hyypia.

Within a minute Murphy had another chance with a curling free kick after Owen had been fouled and Andres Palop touched his shot round a post.

Kewell had now popped up on the right in front of Finnan, and the Aussie curled over a fine cross that Heskey met with a powerful, close range header that Palop blocked more by luck than judgement.

More Liverpool changes saw Gregory Vignal and El-Hadji Diouf replace John Arne Riise and Gerrard, with Milan Baros and Anthony Le Tallec soon to take over from Owen and Kewell.

Midway through the half, Valencia extended their lead as substitute John Carew got away on the left.

Stephane Henchoz slipped as he went to shut down the Norwegian, who then cruised away to fire in a cross-shot that Dudek pushed out into the path of another substitute, Xisco Munoz, who could not miss from two yards.

Salif Diao saw a close range stab saved by the excellent Palop in the closing minutes, and the Valencia keeper somehow clawed out a Le Tallec overhead kick.