Classy Valencia sweep to 2-0 victory over Liverpool

A beautifully-crafted opener from Pablo Aimar and a fine 20-metre drive from Ruben Baraja have given a classy Valencia a 2-0 home win over Liverpool in their opening Champions League group B match.

The Spanish champions, defending a 36-year unbeaten home run against English opponents, took the initiative form the start and strung together a series of neat passing moves that stretched the Liverpool midfield to the limit.

Argentine playmaker Aimar left a dizzy Liverpool defence in his wake as he exchanged passes with David Albelda and Baraja before slipping his shot under keeper Jerzy Dudek to give his side the lead on 20 minutes.

Baraja added a second with his sweetly-struck drive six minutes before the break after the Liverpool defence gave him room to run at them.

Emile Heskey provided Liverpool's main threat, hitting the post on the half hour mark, but although he was joined up front by substitute Michael Owen in the second half neither player was able to breakdown the alert Valencia defence.

Liverpool's frustration was completed when midfielder Dietmar Hamann was dismissed 13 minutes from time after receiving his second booking from referee Herbert Fandel.