Gerrard stunner earns Liverpool win

Steven Gerrard's superb free-kick enabled Liverpool to win on the opening day of the Premier League campaign for the first time during the Rafael Benitez era as they ran out 2-1 victors over Aston Villa.

Villa looked to have rescued a point when skipper Gareth Barry cancelled out Martin Laursen's first-half own goal with an 85th-minute penalty.

But then Gerrard curled a superb free-kick past the dive of Stuart Taylor barely 60 seconds later after he had been brought down by Stiliyan Petrov.

Overall Liverpool were worthy winners with record signing Fernando Torres making a satisfactory debut despite spurning a golden first-half opportunity.

The £20.2million capture from Atletico Madrid linked up effectively with Dirk Kuyt before being taken off with 11 minutes remaining.

But man of the match for the umpteenth time was England midfielder Gerrard who exerted so much influence over proceedings even before his goal while Jamie Carragher excelled at the heart of the Villa defence.

After a bright Villa start Liverpool gradually took command and Torres spurned several chances while Gerrard curled a shot just over the bar after Jermaine Pennant found him in plenty of space and the visitors were carving gaps in the Villa defence almost at will.

Laursen unwittingly bundled the ball into his own net from close range just after the half hour but Villa looked to have rescued a point with four minutes remaining when Barry converted a penalty after Carragher had handled in the box.

But the Villa celebrations had not died down when Gerrard restored Liverpool's lead within 60 seconds. He was brought down 20 yards out by Petrov and himself curled a superb free-kick past Stuart Taylor to cap an excellent individual performance.