Liverpool punish Charlton

Owen (right) returned after a hamstring injury

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Charlton 0-2 Liverpool

Michael Owen marked his return from injury with a clinically-taken goal in Liverpool's victory against a battling Charlton.

Liverpool captain Jamie Redknapp opened the scoring for the visitors with his first Premiership goal since coming back from a long-term knee injury.

And Owen heaped further misery on Charlton's shoulders with a goal just before half-time.

  Key moments

14 mins: Redknapp scores for Liverpool

41: Owen scores on his return from injury

62: Euell's near post shot goes wide

66: Robinson hits the bar for Charlton

88: Wright is sent-off for two bookable offences

Charlton tried valiantly to get back into the game.

But they failed to take their chances and suffered a second defeat in four days.

Liverpool were dealt a blow when Stephen Wright was sent off for two bookable offences after 88 minutes - but it was too late for Charlton to capitalise.

We were caviar in the first half, cabbage in the second

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson

The home side were playing in front of the biggest crowd at The Valley in 25 years, but went behind in the 14th minute.

They failed to clear a long Wright throw-in and the in-rushing Redknapp, making his 250th league appearance, powered a shot past keeper Dean Kiely at the near post.

Steven Gerrard then went close before Charlton striker Jason Euell gave an indication of the home team's fortunes in front of goal.

He headed wide from two corners in the space of six minutes when unmarked in the Liverpool box.

Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy was then caught in possession by Euell whose shot was blocked.

Redknapp scored the opener

From the resulting corner visiting keeper Jerzy Dudek's punched clearance fell to Claus Jensen who could only shoot wide.

Jonatan Johansson became the next Charlton player to spurn a goalscoring opportunity when he collected Mark Kinsella's steered header only to shoot wide from six yards.

England striker Owen showed his rival striker how to finish in front of goal almost immediately, when he raced onto Dietmar Hamman's pass and clipped the ball over the advancing Kiely.

The timing of the goals knocked the stuffing out of us, particularly the first from a simple set-piece, and it seemed to stun the place into silence

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley

Charlton continued to create openings as they caused Liverpool constant problems.

Euell shot wide when running in to meet a cross at the near post and John Robinson saw his 66th minute shot hit the bar.

Wright was then sent off but Charlton were left to rue their missed opportunities.

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Teams:

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fish, Brown, Powell, Robinson, Jensen, Kinsella, Konchesky, Johansson, Euell.

Subs: Roberts, Parker, Peacock, Fortune, Bartlett.

Liverpool: Dudek, Wright, Henchoz, Carragher, Riise, Gerrard, Redknapp, Hamann, Murphy, Owen, Litmanen.

Subs: Kirkland, Smicer, Heskey, Fowler, Berger.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)