Saints hold Liverpool

Owen celebrates his goal for Liverpool

Liverpool 1-1 Southampton
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Liverpool's recent poor form continued with an uninspired performance against a battling Southampton.

Michael Owen got Liverpool off to a flying start with a predator's goal after eight minutes - reacting fastest to a parried save by Paul Jones.

But Liverpool once again failed to build upon their advantage and Southampton equalised through Kevin Davies with the first attack of the second half.

Liverpool now go into Tuesday's crunch match with league leaders Manchester United having won just one of their last nine games and without a clean sheet in eight.

  Key moments

8 mins: Owen scores for Liverpool

32 mins: Gerrard goes off injured

46 mins: Davies equalises for Saints

83 mins: Svensson hits the woodwork for Saints

The draw - Southampton's first in 16 games - means that Gordon Strachan's team have halted a run of defeats, after setbacks against Manchester United and Rotherham.

Liverpool dominated the opening stages, creating three good chances before Michael Owen scored after eight minutes.

In only the second minute Patrick Berger's 25-yard free-kick forced a good save from Paul Jones, who tipped the ball around the post.

I'm very happy with my player's response after our FA Cup defeat at Rotherham in midweek

Saints' boss Gordon Strachan

Two minutes later a Danny Murphy free-kick was headed downwards by Sami Hyypia, but Jones saved with his legs.

Emile Heskey - recalled to the side with Nicolas Anelka relegated to the bench - forced another good save from Jones with a shot from the edge of the area.

But the home team's early pressure eventually told.

Jones parried Dietmar Hamann's shot and Owen slotted home the rebound.

Gerrard injured

Steven Gerrard forced another save from Jones after 18 minutes with a powerful long-range shot.

But the England midfielder injured himself stretching for a challenge just after the half-hour mark and was substituted for Vladimir Smicer.

Gerrard was substituted in the first half

Southampton enjoyed more possession after conceding as the home team dangerously chose to sit back on their lead.

But Saints did not manage a shot at goal until three minutes before the break when Paul Telfer's scuffed shot broke to Kevin Davies, whose shot was comfortably saved by Jerzy Dudek.

However, Southampton did equalise with the first attack of the second half.

Chris Marsden ran deep into Liverpool territory, with the defence backing off.

Henchoz eventually challenged Marsden but the midfielder managed to pass to Davies, who fired home from 15 yards with a powerfully drilled low shot for his first goal in 13 months.

It's a confidence thing, not many of our players wanted the ball

Liverpool's Phil Thompson

Stung into attack, Liverpool poured forward and won a free-kick for a foul on Murphy, which Hamann smashed inches wide from 25 yards.

Shortly afterwards Smicer - himself a first-half substitute - was withdrawn and replaced by Nicolas Anelka.

Heskey shot over from 15 yards and substitute Gary McAllister volleyed just wide shortly after his introduction.

But it was Saints who almost stole the points at the end.

Marsden went close with a powerful shot and Anders Svensson smashed the woodwork with a superb drive.

The rebound broke to Davies, but he missed the target with his first-time shot.

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Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy (McAllister 72), Hamann, Gerrard (Smicer 33), Berger, Owen, Heskey, Smicer (Anelka 59).
Subs Not Used: Heggem, Arphexad.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Williams, Bridge, Svensson, Marsden, Telfer, Fernandes (Tessem 75), Davies, Pahars (Le Tissier 90).
Subs Not Used: Moss, Monk, Delgado.
Booked: Davies.

Att: 43,710

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).