Gerrard leads Liverpool to win in opener

Aug 12, 2007, 0:17 GMT

Birmingham, England - Steven Gerrard scored the game- winning goal on a free-kick in the 87th minute to lift Liverpool over Aston Villa, 2-1, in the English Premier League opener on Saturday.

Liverpool, which is seeking its first league title since the 1989-90 campaign, picked up the full three points on opening day for the first time since 2002.

'Over the last few seasons we have been frustrated with the start we've made, we've lost silly points and have been playing catch-up,' said Gerrard. 'The idea this time is to come out of the blocks quickly and stay in the title race.'

Gareth Barry scored the sole goal for Aston Villa, which played in front of a sold-out Villa Park.

Liverpool grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the 31st minute courtesy of an own goal by Martin Laursen.

But Villa continued to battle and tied the match at 1-1 in the 85th minute on a penalty kick by Gareth Barry, who went to the spot thanks to a handball by Jamie Carragher.

Gerrard's game-winner came only two minutes after Villa drew even. The skipper lifted the free-kick over the Villa wall into the top of the net.

'It's about time the lads let me take one,' said Gerrard. 'I've been in the first team eight years now and they've never let me take them because they always go over.'

In other Premiership action on Saturday: Michael Chopra scored in injury time to lift Sunderland over the Spurs, 1-0; Sam Allardyce won his first league game as manager of Newcastle in a 3-1 decision over Bolton; Portsmouth and Derby County battled to a 2-2 draw; Everton edged out Wigan, 2-1, at Goodison Park thanks to goals by Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe; Middlesbrough received a goal from Stewart Downing, but it wasn't enough in a 2-1 loss to Blackburn; West Ham was blanked by Manchester City, 2-0, in Sven-Goran Eriksson's Premiership debut.

© 2007 The Sports Network