Owen rescues Liverpool

Owen has scored 17 goals for Liverpool this season

West Ham 1-1 Liverpool
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Michael Owen scored his 100th goal for Liverpool to prevent the Anfield club slipping to a third defeat in four games at West Ham.

Liverpool left it late - but Owen made no mistake as he finished clinically from an Emile Heskey pass with just two minutes remaining.

It was almost written for Owen - the last game of 2001 and he produces the goods

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson

A fine Trevor Sinclair strike six minutes before the interval looked to have secured West Ham the three points.

But second-half subsitute Owen - recently crowned European Footballer of the Year - once again came to Liverpool's rescue.

The key to West Ham's early ascendancy was their youthful midfield, with Michael Carrick linking impressively with Joe Cole, while Sinclair provided added drive.

West Ham dominance down the middle prompted Liiverpool's assistant manager Phil Thompson to replace Gary McAllister with Steven Gerrard for the second half.

His energy made an immediate difference as Liverpool sought to restore parity.

  Key moments

39 mins: Trevor Sinclair gives West Ham the lead

88 mins: Michael Owen equalises with his 100th goal for Liverpool

With Owen rested, Nicolas Anelka made his full debut for Liverpool.

Yet the partnership of the Frenchman and Emile Heskey only served as a reminder of how reliant Liverpool are on Owen's goals.

Heskey has now scored just once in 28 games, while Anelka missed several chances.

Busy Dudek

Anelka almost opened his account early on but his rising shot was tipped comfortably over the bar by West Ham keeper David James.

Then the Frenchman took advantage of a lapse in the home defence to go clear on goal, but his first shot was well saved by James and the keeper then saved again at Anelka's feet.

Moments before that James, playing against his old team, made two mistakes in a minute which could have cost West Ham dear.

Steven Gerrard heralded Liverpool's revival

First John Arne Riise crossed from the left and James rose with Anelka, flapping at the ball and fortunately for West Ham diverting it for a corner.

From Gary McAllister's set-piece, James missed again in similar fashion, prompting Hutchison to clear from under his own crossbar.

Sinclair's goal had stemmed from good work by Jermain Defoe.

The young striker cut into the penalty area from the left and set up Sinclair to fire a low right-foot shot past Jerzy Dudek.

Earlier, Sinclair had seen a low 17th-minute strike from the edge of the box flash wide of Dudek's right-hand post.

We've got great team spirit and a great young team

West Ham manager Glenn Roeder

Sinclair came even closer from an identical effort moments later, his shot on the turn leaving Dudek scrambling across his goal.

Immediately after the goal West Ham kept pressing and Defoe saw a shot tipped around the post by the Liverpool keeper.

Then Kanoute headed wide from Cole's cross and on the stroke of half-time Sinclair beat the visitors' defence yet again and set up Defoe to flash a powerful shot wide.

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West Ham: James, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Hutchison, Carrick, Cole, Sinclair, Kanoute, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Foxe, Moncur, Courtois, Todorov.

Booked: Sinclair.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Smicer (Litmanen 75), McAllister (Gerrard 45), Murphy (Owen 59), Berger, Anelka, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Wright.

Att: 35,103.

Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville).