Sport 12-09-2001 Modest Start To Liverpool`s Champions` League Campaign who: Liverpool what: Draw 1-1 with Boavista in Champions` League group B where: Anfield, LIVERPOOL when: Last night snippet: "One sublime moment of Michael Owen magic could not lift Liverpool out of the Champions League doldrums last night," reports The Sun`s Mike Ellis as Gerard Houllier`s treble-winners drew 1-1 with Boavista at Anfield. "The Kop kings were back in the European Cup for the first time in 16 years but their long-waited return fell flat against the Portuguese champions." Having suffered consecutive defeats against Bolton and Aston Villa, Houllier "doubtless hoped to see a return to the form that proved the undoing of Bayern Munich and Manchester United," says The Telegraph`s Matt Lawton. "Only Michael Owen maintains the standard to which all his team-mates aspire." Boavista`s Silva took an early lead in the third minute but Owen poached a goal in the 29th "from virtually Liverpool`s first attack," says The Mirror, "with a wonderfully-executed finish of instinctive class." "I think we were probably a bit surprised by the pace and intensity of the tempo and the physical commitment of the game," Houllier said afterwards. "Boavista are a very good team, just as I said earlier in the week." [... more]

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