Arsenal lost and Manchester United only drew, but Liverpool produced a crucial victory at Anfield on the back of a tough European week.

The rest may be talking of tiredness, but not Gerard Houllier's resolute, determined Liverpool outfit.

Spurs, to their immense credit, gave everything and thought they had grabbed a point when Dean Richards headed them level with eight minutes to go.

But Liverpool's response was electric and decisive and when Owen's surge down the left was ended by Stephen Carr's desperate tackle, it was left for the striker to drill home the spot-kick - his ninth goal for club and country in 29 days and his 120th for the club in 220 games.

Spurs, having won only three times at Anfield in the league since 1911 and beaten in their last six visits, played their part in a high-quality battle.

Liverpool were without Emile Heskey (groin) but had Steven Gerrard back, while Jamie Redknapp's return after his summer move to north London received a fine ovation from all sides of the ground, plus handshakes from several former colleagues.

The home side started strongly with neat interchanging and passing and Owen had a trio of half chances, while Spurs hardly got into the Anfield box for half an hour.

The leaders had vastly more of the possession, but Robbie Keane flashed a rising drive which hit Gus Poyet and cannoned over the bar.

After 21 minutes Redknapp was fouled by Dietmar Hamann 30 yards out, and from a neat free-kick routine, Redknapp's fierce drive came back off Jerzy Dudek but was hacked clear by Carragher.

The best chance of the first half fell to the impressive Salif Diao who met Carragher's clever ball into the box, and his instinctive low hook beat Kasey Keller, and the far post by inches.

Liverpool had the ball in the net through Owen - but referee Mike Riley disallowed the effort for a shirt pulling offence by Diouf on Richards in the build-up.

Sheringham went close a minute after the break when he collected the ball out on the left and flashed a low drive just wide of Dudek's far post.

The withdrawal of Diouf on 57 minutes brought on Baros to partner Owen up front - but Poyet almost scored twice for the visitors.

First the Uruguayan hooked a first timer from 12 yards which Dudek saved superbly, and then from the corner, Poyet's header was kicked off the line by Hamann.

Vladimir Smicer was introduced for the flagging Gerrard on 67 minutes but five minutes later Danny Murphy sent them into the lead with a curling 25-yarder which sailed past Keller, after receiving the ball from Hamann.

Smicer was booked on 73 minutes for disputing a free-kick, and two minutes later Ferdinand took over from Sheringham for Spurs.

With 10 minutes to go Spurs then brought on Milenko Acimovic for Poyet and the Slovenian provided a fine piece of skill on the left to create space for a cross which Richards headed home from six yards on 82 minutes.

But Liverpool's response was dramatic. Owen surged down the left, cut into the box and was sent flying by Carr.

The last time Owen was fouled in the box at Anfield against West Brom, he missed the resulting penalty. This time he kept his nerve and drilled the ball home.