New boss Rafael Benitez saw Djibril Cisse and Owen grab the goals that sunk the Italians as Liverpool rounded off their US trip with a second win in three matches.

It is the forward pairing Benitez hopes will terrorise the Barclays Premiership as well as Europe this term, and the duo are seemingly starting to hit it off together.

An opening 5-1 victory over Celtic was followed by a late 1-0 defeat by Porto in the past week, both matches giving Benitez plenty to be confident about as the Champions League and domestic campaigns approach.

And that feeling was boosted with this excellent victory – Liverpool’s last warm-up match before they face AK Graz next Tuesday in the crucial Champions League third qualifying round first leg in Austria.

Cisse and Milan Baros initially started in attack for Liverpool while Igor Biscan – the surprise success of the tour – was given another chance to impress in his preferred midfield role.

Biscan suffered continued abuse last season and his displays seemed to underline the erratic form of Liverpool under Gerard Houllier.

But then Biscan was continually played at centre back, and it never worked.

Now given a run in central midfield, he is providing a serious alternative to Dietmar Hamann, who is in the final year of his Anfield contract.

Once again Biscan produced a fine display and he has staked a claim for a starting role in Austria and then on Saturday week when the Premier League campaign starts at Spurs.

Both sides showed a willingness to attack but it was Roma who took the lead in the 21st minute.

A good move down the left by Vincent Candela resulted in Christian Panucci threading a ball into the Liverpool box and an unmarked Marco Delvecchio turned it home from close range past a helpless Jerzy Dudek.

But it was no surprise when Liverpool levelled nine minutes later.

Baros and Steven Gerrard combined 25 yards from goal to release John Arne Riise – playing wide in midfield – down the left and the Norwegian coolly rolled the ball sideways to Cisse, who made no mistake sliding the ball into the empty net, his third goal of the US trip.

Worryingly, skipper Gerrard was forced off after taking an earlier knock on the ankle.

Liverpool certainly finished the half strongest and right on the half-time whistle Kewell stung the fingers of Roma keeper Zotti with a blistering left-footed strike that was superbly turned around the post.

New signing Josemi came on for his debut at the break and slotted in with ease at right back in place of Irish international Steve Finnan, who clearly faces a real battle now to hold his place against the £2m (€3m) Spanish acquisition.

Josemi, who is tipped to win his first international call up in the next few weeks, showed some good touches coming forward and defended solidly.

Liverpool continued to dominate, but wasted a string of chances.

Hamann, a second-half substitute, was handed the Liverpool captaincy for the first time when Sami Hyypia made way for young defender Zak Whitbread on the hour mark, and Roma almost stole the lead against the run of play soon after when Phillipe Mexes shot against the outside of the upright from a tight angle.

Vincenzo Montella then managed to wriggle free from Jamie Carragher’s attentions inside the area only for Dudek to race off his line and force the striker to fire wide.

The game looked to be heading for a penalty shoot-out but with five minutes remaining Hamann made a determined run and the ball fell to second-half substitute Owen who showed his predatory class to tuck the ball past Carlo Zotti.

Roma immediately struck back and hit the post through Panucci but Liverpool held on for a deserved victory that will boost the Anfield confidence as they prepare for the real thing next week.