The English football renaissance continues. Liverpool struck another mighty blow for English soccer in Rome last nightagainst current Serie A league leaders, AS Roma. Seventeen after Joe Fagan's Liverpool defeated Roma in the Champions Cup final, the men in red struck again, this time winning in an arguably much more emphatic manner. England striker Michael Owen, a surprise starter, was the hero of the night scoring both goals.

For the third time this season, a Premiership side has come, seen and, if not conquered, at least done very well at the Olympic Stadium. Reigning Italian champions Lazio have already been held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal and beaten 1-0 by Leeds in Champions League games here this season. Last night, Liverpool did arguably better, making the most of surprisingly tame Roma performance in which the home side complicated things for themselves by gifting a soft goal early in the second half. When Liverpool's French coach, Gerard Houllier, suggested last weekend that the English Premiership is the most competitive league in the world, you had better believe him.

Both opening line-ups had contained an element of surprise. Whilst it had been widely expected that Roma coach Fabio Capello would rest his Argentine ace, Gabriel Batistuta, it came as a mild surprise to find that the club doctor had also ruled out captain Francesco Totti.

Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, a player perhaps headed for the English Premiership next season, replaced Totti in an otherwise familiar formation in which Marco Delvecchio moved into the Batistuta role, partnered by Vincenzo Montella. As a replacement for Totti, however, despite some good first half passing, Nakata proved disappointing.

Liverpool's Houllier also sprang a few surprises, opting for German Christian Ziege rather than Czech Republic midfielder Vladimir Smicer and, more surprisingly, going for a front line comprising Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler.

By half-time, the visitors already had every reason to be pleased. Not only had they held Roma scoreless but, more significantly, they had done so in a 45-minute period in which their Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld had not had to make anything resembling a serious save.

For all that Roma inevitably made the running, the home side had to wait until the 42nd minute before creating their first real chance. That came when Brazilian Cafu and reserve defender Alessandro Rinaldi combined well on the right, with Rinaldi knocking in a fine cross that Delvecchio headed just over from close range.

If the first half had proved satisfactory for Liverpool, the second half began on a postively perfect note when the normally reliable Roma defence gave away a soft goal in the first minute. In a moment of distraction, Rinaldi broke every rule in the defender's code when delivering a square pass across his penalty area.

Owen gratefully accepted the gift and danced past Amedeo Mangone before slotting home a brilliantly taken goal out of reach of the blameless Roma goalkeeper, Francesco Antinioli.

That goal inevitably dropped the Roma fat in the fire but, for all that the home side upped their rhythm and tempo, they had only one fiercely driven drive from Brazilian substitute Assuncao to show for their efforts. Twety-five minutes from the end, Capello had little option but to throw Batistuta into the fray.

The big Argentine had hardly had time to warm himself up, however, before little Owen struck again for a splendid 71st minute second goal that, in itself, has probably put Liverpool into the quarter-finals.

From out on the right, Ziege hit a powerful free kick which was parried by Antonioli. The rebound fell to Finn Sami Hyppia who combined neatly with Ziege to send the German to the byeline from where he delivered a wickedly fast and low pass which Owen read brilliantly, getting in to head home from a narrow angle at the near post.

A jubilant Houllier hailed Liverpool's performance but said: "We mustn't get carried away, there's still the second leg. Roma are an outstanding side, a great team but we managed to keep them quiet and nullified them. But the second game will be very difficult.

ROMA: Antonioli; Rinaldi, Samuel, Mangone; Cafu, Emerson, Tommasi, Candela; Nakata; Delvecchio, Montella. Subs: Assuncao for Nakata (51 mins); Batistuta for Tommasi (66 mins); Gigou for Delvecchio (82 mions).

LIVERPOOL: Westerveld; Babbel, Henchoz, Hyppia, Carragher; Barmby, McAllister, Hamann, Ziege; Owen, Fowler. Subs: Smicer for Ziege (74 mins); Litmanen for Owen (80 mins).

Referee: M Merk (Ger).