Liverpool 1-1 Leeds

	Harry Kewell lashes in his goal (LaurenceGriffiths/Allsport)

Robbie Fowler saved Liverpool with a glimpse of the breathtaking skill that he feels can only be honed by regular first-team football.

It was enough to unlock a Leeds defence that had stubbornly protected the lead given to them by Harry Kewell after 27 minutes.

For much of the game, Fowler had groped falteringly around the visitors' penalty area, desperately searching for the touch of artistry that has been blunted of late by inactivity.

Indeed, it was something of a surprise that Gerard Houllier, having thrown out strong vibes that England striker Fowler was still third choice behind Emile Heskey and Jari Litmanen even in the prolonged absence of Michael Owen, preferred him to the Finn in the starting line-up.

There was also cruel irony in the fact that, maybe having gone against his better judgment, the Liverpool manager was missing when the magic moment arrived in the 69th minute.

Fowler escaped the Leeds marking long enough to give himself the time and space to attempt a left-footed chip from the edge of the penalty area that was too precisely delivered even for Nigel Martyn's formidable frame.

The Leeds goalkeeper, comprehensively beaten as the ball thumped against the bar, was helpless as Danny Murphy raced in to head the rebound into an empty net.

Until then, there had been only one shot on target - Kewell's right-footed drive that deflected off Stephane Henchoz's outstretched leg on its way into the Liverpool net.

But Murphy's equaliser sparked a flurry of goalmouth action which slightly favoured Leeds.

Robbie Keane might have been obstructed by Sami Hyypia a minute later before hitting a low shot that Jerzy Dudek scrambled for a corner.

And Lee Bowyer was only inches off target with an injury-time volley after Ian Harte's long cross had been headed down by Mark Viduka.

Leeds boss David O'Leary insisted his team should have gone back across the Pennines with a win for the second season in succession.

'I'm gutted we didn't collect all three points,' he said. 'We gave away a silly goal, missed a couple of good chances and should have had a penalty.

'When you come to Anfield you're always prepared to settle for a draw, but I just felt we had done enough to win this one.'

The Leeds manager tempered his team's unbeaten start by reiterating his belief that the Elland Road squad is still below strength.

'We are a long way behind the others in terms of numbers,' he said. 'Gerard and Alex Ferguson would say you need a squad of around 20 players and that's where we have to improve.'

Liverpool coach Phil Thompson praised his team's second-half performance, saying: 'It was the kind of display that Gerard would have been proud of.

'We battled hard and deserved everything we got. It was just a pity he wasn't here to see it.'