Gerard Houllier admitted Liverpool were in debt to Michael Owen after the striker rescued a draw in the first round of the Uefa Cup against Ljubliana.
Owen became Liverpool's leading goalscorer in European competition, overtaking Ian Rush, when he headed home John Arne Riise's cross 12 minutes from time.
And Houllier was quick to salute the England striker for rescuing his side from the brink of a major upset in Slovenia.
"It was not a great Liverpool performance, but it was a great Michael Owen goal," said Houllier.
"It was a goal that created history by breaking Ian Rush's record, and we will celebrate it with him. We were grateful too.
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In the end it was a special day for Michael with him breaking that record and we are delighted for him
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"Drawing 1-1 away from home in Europe is a good result, have no doubts about that.
"The performance was not that good, but the result was, and we have an away goal.
"In the end it was a special day for Michael with him breaking that record and we are delighted for him."
Houllier also praised the Slovenians, who played their hearts out and at gave themselves a chance ahead of the second leg on 15 October.
"At this stage of the competition, against supposedly little teams, we know from experience that it will be tough.
"They played the match of their lives, nothing like they would normally play like, and to be honest they deserved their result.
"They tired towards the end and we had several chances to win it, but they deserved what they got from the match.
"They played the way we expected them to play. They were committed, and gave us a real fight. They played out of their skins," Houllier added.
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MMIX
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