Owen inspires Liverpool

Michael Owen scores past Shaka Hislop

Liverpool 2-1 West Ham

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Michael Owen scored two predatory goals to lead Liverpool to victory over a defiant West Ham side at Anfield.

The home side had looked anxious at 1-1 before the England striker scored a splendid individual winner in the 77th minute.

Although the Reds dominated possession throughout, they found it difficult to break down their determined and well-organised opponents.

They took the lead early on through Owen but were stunned when the Hammers equalised after half-an-hour with an impudent Paolo di Canio penalty.

  Key incidents

4 mins: Hislop thwarts Owen

17 mins: Owen scores from a brilliant McAllister flick-on

30 mins: Di Canio equalises from the spot after Henchoz brings down Todorov

77 mins: Owen seals victory for Liverpool with a great individual effort

Robbie Fowler was not even chosen on the bench for Liverpool after refusing to apologise to Phil Thompson for a training ground spat.

Finn Jari Litmanen was selected to partner Owen in attack with the injured Emile Heskey also absent.

The strike pair linked up excellently early on when Litmanen played a defence splitting pass to Owen, who was narrowly beaten to the ball by Hislop.

Liverpool, orchestrated by the superb Gary McAllister, dominated the early stages and took the lead after 17 minutes.

McAllister mercurially flicked the ball to Owen with the back of his heel and the England international took the ball past Rigobert Song with his first touch before shooting low past West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop.

He is acting as if he doesn't want Liverpool, as if he doesn't want the good of Liverpool.

Gerard Houllier on Robbie Fowler

The Hammers struggled to get hold of the ball early on and their stars, Di Canio, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, were rarely involved.

Yet after half an hour they astonishingly equalised with one of their first attacks.

Liverpool defenders Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher left it to each other to clear in the area and the ball fell to Svetoslav Todorov, who fell under a challenge from Stephane Henchoz.

Di Canio immediately stepped up to take the spot-kick and coolly flicked the ball over the diving, despairing Arphexad.

The goal seemed to buoy West Ham and they made a better battle of the rest of the half.

"I enjoyed my first Premiership game in charge, but I'd have enjoyed it more if we had held on to a draw and I doubt that anybody could have said we didn't deserve it

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder

Liverpool brought on new signing John Arne Riise and Nick Barmby but continued to be frustrated by their well-organised opponents.

They carved out few chances, although Hamann went close on the hour with an athletic volley from the edge of the area.

Yet it was Owen who again rescued an increasingly apprehensive Liverpool side.

There seemed to be little on when Hamann played a simple pass to the diminutive striker just outside the area.

But he sped past Christian Dailly before drilling a low, angled shot past Hislop from the corner of the box.

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Liverpool: Arphexad, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Murphy, Hamann, McAllister, Biscan, Owen, Litmanen. Subs: Redknapp, Riise, Barmby, Nielsen, Traore.

West Ham: Hislop, Schemmel, Dailly, Song, Winterburn, Sinclair, Carrick, Moncur, Cole, Todorov, Di Canio. Subs: Forrest, Soma, Defoe, Courtois, McCann.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).