Reuters
Tuesday, September 11, 2001; 5:34 PM

_____Champions League_____ Draws/Tables/Fixtures: • First Phase _____Results_____ Matchday 1 • Group A Loko. Moscow 1, Anderlecht 1 Roma 1, Real Madrid 2 • Group B Dynamo Kiev 2, Bo. Dortmund 2 Liverpool 1, Boavista 1 • Group C Real Mallorca 1, Arsenal 0 Schalke 0, Panathinaikos 2 • Group D Galatasaray 1, Lazio 0 Nantes 4, PSV Eindhoven 1

LIVERPOOL, England, Sept 11 – Liverpool's first ever appearance in the Champions League proved a frustrating experience on Tuesday as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by a hard-working Boavista side.

Last season's surprise Portuguese champions shocked the UEFA Cup winners with a goal after just three minutes of their group B game by Brazilian striker Silva.

Liverpool equalised in the 29th minute with yet another goal for in-form England striker Michael Owen but showed little in the second half as the visitors gave them no time on the ball.

"At the moment we concede too many goals but if we defend better the quality of our offensive play will pay off," said Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier after the match.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence in respect for the victims of the U.S. terror attacks.

Liverpool fell behind within three minutes when Silva somehow outjumped the normally dominant Sami Hyypia to flick on a long clearance by goalkeeper Ricardo. He then spun to seize on the loose ball and fire a rising shot past Jerzy Dudek.

It was another shock start for the Polish international, signed for 5 million pounds ($7.32 million) from Feyenoord last week after he let in three on his debut in Saturday's home defeat by Aston Villa.

Liverpool are four times winners of the European Cup but were playing in the elite competition for the first season since 1985 when they lost 1-0 to Juventus in a match remembered for the death of 39 fans following rioting in Brussels's Heysel Stadium.

For almost half an hour, and with thousands of empty seats on show, there was little of the atmosphere that made Anfield so special on the big European nights of the 1970s and '80s.

That all changed in the in the 29th minute when, inevitably, Owen got the equaliser.

FRUITLESS CLAIM

Emile Heskey slid the ball into his path and the man who just can't miss at the moment planted a confident shot into the top corner for his 12th goal in just 10 matches for club and country this season.

However, Boavista, who broke the "Big Three" stranglehold of the Portuguese league last season when winning the title for the first time, continued to work hard in the second half and not until Heskey glanced a header across the face of goal in the 64th minute did Liverpool threaten again.

And Duda could have won it for the visitors 12 minutes from time but lost possession in front of goal.

Liverpool visit Borussia Dortmund next Wednesday while Boavista host Dynamo Kiev. Kiev were held to a 2-2 draw by the Germans on Tuesday.

Houllier, who led his team to a cup treble last season recognised there was plenty of room for improvement.

"You have to acknowledge they are a good side," he said.

"What was disappointing was the start we had, but we picked up well and had a good first half.

"The second half was even but we are learning and a lot of the players are discovering that the competition is a bit faster and physically more committed."

Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco was annoyed not to have taken all three points.

"There is some frustration. Given the performance of our players a draw was not enough," he said.

"Boavista for some years now have had the flexibility to counter-attack and apply pressure...and this makes us a team with the quality to take on an opponent like Liverpool who used to be among the world's best, and show rigour and daring.

"And with perhaps a bit more speed and more attacks, we could have won."