Liverpool thrash Leeds

Owen's fourth goal was the icing on the cake

Leeds United 0-4 Liverpool
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Liverpool out-played Leeds at Elland Road and deservedly collected three points that lift them to third in the Premier League.

Emile Heskey had scored just once in 34 games before his goal against Leicester on Wednesday.

  Key moments

16 mins: Ferdinand scores an own goal

61 mins: Heskey scores for Liverpool

63 mins: Heskey scores again

90 mins: Owen heads Liverpool's fourth goal

But he is now on something of a hot streak - his second-half brace at Elland Road adding to Rio Ferdinand's early own goal.

Michael Owen completed the scoring - and compounded Leeds' misery - with a fourth goal in injury time.

Steven Gerrard set the tone for the match with a crunching tackle on Olivier Dacourt in the first minute and the England international was at his determined, competitive best throughout the match.

Turgid periods of play - in which Leeds in particular surrendered possession with distressing ease - could not disguise Liverpool's commitment.

But David O'Leary's team - lacklustre against Chelsea last Wednesday - did not create meaningful chances until they were 3-0 down and must start to impress themselves on games at a much earlier stage.

Liverpool were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after seven minutes when Ian Harte appeared to make contact with Owen.

This is for Gerard Houllier - it was a fantastic all-round performance

Reds assistant boss Phil Thompson

But the Reds were soon ahead - with Danny Murphy playing a key role.

His tantalising free-kick from deep on the left-hand side curled between defence and goal - and caught Ferdinand in no-man's-land with several Liverpool players lurking on his shoulder.

Under pressure the England defender glanced the ball past Nigel Martyn with his right foot and into his own net.

The first half continued at a frenetic pace but was characterised by a lack of composure on the ball.

Liverpool's tenacity was too much for Leeds

Liverpool crafted the early second-half chances as they began to dominate.

Gerrard shot just over after 46 minutes and Owen slipped his marker 10 minutes later before forcing a good save from Martyn with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

And it was the visiting team who scored the crucial second goal.

Gerrard picked out Heskey with a through ball from midfield.

Liverpool won the game comfortably but we didn't half make it easy for them

Leeds boss David O'Leary

The Liverpool striker sprung the off-side trap - though replays suggested he was fortunate the linesman's flag stayed down - skipped round Martyn and slipped the ball home from an acute angle.

Two minutes later Leeds failed to clear a corner and Heskey buried the ball into the roof of the net.

Stunned into reply, Leeds were foiled by amazing saves from Jerzy Dudek to deny Harry Kewell and Robbie Fowler.

And Michael Owen headed home at the second time of asking in injury time to cap a fantastic afternoon for the visiting team.

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Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Dacourt (Wilcox 57), Batty, Kewell (Keane 75), Fowler, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, McPhail, Duberry.

Booked: Matteo, Kewell.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise, Wright, Hamann, Gerrard (McAllister 90), Murphy, Owen, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Xavier, Smicer, Anelka.

Booked: Carragher.

Att: 40,216

Ref: G Poll (Tring).