England's World Cup wonderkid, Michael Owen, returned after being rested against Valencia in midweek and blew away Nottingham Forest with four goals.

Ron Jones at Anfield: "Owen was simply brilliant"

The teenager's fellow England striker Robbie Fowler had to settle for a place on the substitute's bench as Roy Evans opted to play Owen up alongside Karlheinz Riedle.

Forest brought in Dougie Freedman for Frenchman Jean-Claude Darcheville and left his compatriot Thierry Bonalair up front.

Omagh bomb survivor Ronan McGrory, a keen Liverpool fan, was the club's guest of honour along with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and their hosts served up a feast of superb football.

Liverpool's fluid performance was in sharp contrast to their stuttering display against Valencia in the UEFA Cup on Tuesday.

Patrik Berger's corner was headed inches wide by Paul Ince early on but The Kop did not have to wait long for a goal.

Opening goal

In the 10th minutes Ince won a crunching tackle in midfield and the ball broke to Riedle, whose pass put Owen clear and the 18-year-old curled a right foot shot into the top corner.

Liverpool were stunned eight minutes later when Forest equalised against the run of play.

Steve Stone managed to keep in a long cross and laid the ball into the path of Freedman, who fired past David James.

But the Red storm abated for only five minutes.

On top of the world: Owen celebrates his fourth

Owen and Riedle pounced on a mistake by Steve Chettle and fed the ball across the penalty area to Steve McManaman who smashed it into the top of the net.

Jamie Carragher headed wide in the 29th minute but Forest were still in the game and almost equalised two minutes later through Freedman

Roy Evans talks to Tony Gubba

Owen grabbed the third goal in the 38th minute when he found space on the left and shot across Dave Beasant and into the far corner.

The warning signs were then again soon after the break with Owen just falling foul of Forest's offside trap.

Could have had more goals

Riedle, Owen and Berger all had chances to increase the lead while at the other end Neil Shipperley's rising drive was turned over by James.

Roy Evans: 'Maybe the rest did Michael good'

But the Anfield wonderboy completed his hat-trick after 71 minutes when he fired home a penalty after Riedle made a meal of a challenge by Alan Rogers.

Rogers accused the German of diving but could not convince referee Steve Dunn.

Owen grabbed his fourth in the 77th minute and it was the best of the lot.

He collected a long throw from James on the halfway line, charged down the left wing, cut in and then unleashed a low shot which Beasant could only parry back into his path.

Liverpool

James, McAteer, Staunton, McManaman, Owen, Riedle, Heggem, Berger, Ince, Bjornebye, Carragher. Subs: Fowler, Harkness, Kvarme, Friedel, Thompson.

Nottm Forest

Beasant, Rogers, Chettle, Hjelde, Stone, Gemmill, Shipperley, Bart-Williams, Freedman, Armstrong, Bonalair. Subs: Louis-Jean, Crossley, Lyttle, Gray, Harewood.