By Jeremy Butler
Reuters
Wednesday, September 26, 2001; 4:57 PM

_____Champions League_____ Draws/Tables/Fixtures: • First Phase _____Results_____ Matchday 3 • Group A Real Madrid 4, Anderlecht 1 Roma 2, Lokomotiv Moscow 1 • Group B Boavista 2, Borussia Dortmund 1 Liverpool 1, Dynamo Kiev 0 • Group C Panathinaikos 1, Arsenal 0 Schalke 0, Real Mallorca 1 • Group D PSV Eindhoven 1, Lazio 0 Nantes 0, Galatasaray 1 • Group E Rosenborg 1, Juventus 1 Celtic 1, Porto 0 • Group F Fenerbahce 0, Lyon 1 Bayer Leverkusen 2, Barcelona 1 • Group G Deportivo 2, Manchester United 1 Lille 3, Olympiakos 1 • Group H Spartak Moscow 1, Bayern Munich 3 Sparta Pague 4, Feyenoord 0

LIVERPOOL, England, Sept 26 – Finnish striker Jari Litmanen scored the only goal as Liverpool recorded their first Champions League group B victory with a 1-0 success over Dynamo Kiev at Anfield on Wednesday.

Litmanen, handed a place in the starting lineup in preference to Robbie Fowler, pounced from close range in the 23rd minute after Steven Gerrard's twice deflected freekick came back off the post.

Liverpool deserved their victory against the Ukrainians, who lacked a cutting edge. Emile Heskey could have added to the English side's lead and Nick Barmby hit the post in the second half.

The victory capped a good night for Gerard Houllier's side, whose injured striker Michael Owen announced he had signed a new contract with the club before kickoff.

Liverpool remained in second place and unbeaten on five points at the halfway stage of group B, two points behind leaders Boavista. Kiev have one point from their three games.

"We were a bit unlucky not to score one of two more goals, we missed two or three sitters," said Houllier.

"I'm pleased we've managed our first win. It was a very good goal by Jari."

Liverpool's dominance of the group B clash was almost total.

Litmanen had the ball in the net in the fourth minute, only for referee Pierluigi Collina to rule out the goal for offside and Tiberiu Ghioane then had to clear the ball off his line to deny the Finn.

But the inventive Litmanen, scorer of a fine goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, did eventually make the breakthrough.

Gerrard's freekick struck two defenders before rebounding off a post and Litmanen shot home off the underside of the bar from six metres.

ROUSING RECEPTION

The goal was his 25th goal on his 60th appearance in European club competitions and appeared to vindicate manager Gerard Houllier's decision to select him ahead of Fowler.

Fowler, accused by Houllier of lacking sharpness, was left on the bench but received a rousing reception from the 33,513 Anfield crowd when he eventually entered the fray in the 65th minute.

Liverpool continued to create chances after the interval as the pace of the game slackened off.

Kiev goalkeeepr Olexander Filimonov saved his side from going two behind with a stunning one-handed stop to punch away Heskey's near post prod, and the England striker then guided the ball wide when left with only the keeper to beat.

Barmby broke into the box on the hour to chest down a pass from John Arne Riise and beat Filimonov with a low drive that flew to safety off the inside of an upright.

Kiev coach Valery Lobanovsky started the match with a three-man strike force in an attempt to unsettle the Liverpool defence, but the visitors, currently bottom of the group, created few clearcut opportunities.

Olexander Melashchenko forced Jerzy Dudek into a first half save and Valentin Belkevich curled a free-kick just past the post, but otherwise the Liverpool keeper had a quiet night.