LONDON (AP):

Wayne Rooney fired defending champion Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over promoted Birmingham yesterday, while Liverpool slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham.

The England striker headed a cross from Nani against the post and the ball came back for him to tap into an empty net in the 34th minute at Old Trafford. United is trying to become the first topflight English team to win the league title four seasons in a row.

"We created plenty of chances to win the game and thankfully we came out with the three points," Rooney said. "While it was 1-0 there was still a chance (Birmingham) could get a result. The first games of the season are always difficult."

Michael Owen came on as a substitute for the last 16 minutes and should have marked his first Premier League appearance for United with a goal in injury time when he broke clear of the Birmingham defence from Rooney's flick-on, but his shot was deflected wide by Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Great run

"Owen made a great run and the keeper made a great save," said United manager Alex Ferguson. "But he will get his goals, no question about that.

"I know some of our supporters are still worried that I have not bought a megastar to replace Cristiano (Ronaldo)," Ferguson said. "They are concerned because they can't quite work out how we are going to compensate for all the goals Cristiano used to get for us. But I am more than happy with our squad and although we have lost a major player, I believe we are on the threshold of a very exciting era for Manchester United."

United opened the campaign without regular centre backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Vidic was already ruled out with a calf muscle injury but Ferdinand pulled out with a thigh injury which Ferguson said could sideline him for two weeks.

Although Birmingham went close to scoring three times and United goalkeeper Ben Foster made a top quality one-handed save to keep out Christian Benitez's shot in the 78th minute, Alex Ferguson's team should have won by a wider margin.

Darren Fletcher missed the target from close range just before halftime, Hart saved a 30-metre shot from Rooney and Lee Carsley cleared off the line from Dimitar Berbatov in the second half before the Bulgarian was replaced by Owen with 16 minutes to go. Minutes earlier Berbatov, appeared to be tripped inside the area by Stephen Carr.