Michael Owen fired Liverpool into the fourth round of the UEFA Cup tonight with the only goal of the game to see Liverpool through 2-0 on aggregate. The England forward moved within one of Ian Rush's club record of 20 European goals with a 21st-minute strike to sink Vitesse Arnhem.
The goal earned the Reds a 2-0 aggregate victory with Owen having scored the only goal of the sides' first meeting in Holland a fortnight ago. After a miserable few weeks on the domestic front, manager Gerard Houllier now at least has European football to look forward to in the new year.
In truth though the game was a scrappy affair and Liverpool should have won comfortably but lacked composure and, at times, looked lethargic.
Stephen Gerrard, criticised recently by Houllier for his below-par performances, set his sights on ending a disappointing recent league run for the Reds. He said: "There has been a lot of talk this week in training and the most important thing tonight is the clean sheet, we can take that into the Sunderland game this weekend.
"We expected to be in the second phase of the Champions League because we were last year but it wasn't to be. Now it's up to us to try and win this competition and have a good crack at the Premier League."
While Owen admitted he did not expect to be given a second chance after the Vitesse goalkeeper saved his initial effort. He said: "I thought I maybe should have got a little bit closer when I shot. I never expected it but you've always got to be on the look out - that's what being a striker is all about.
"By now the midfielders know how I like to play the game and Gerrard is equally as good as Danny Murphy and it's nice to play in front of two players like that. I think the result we got away was a good one and even though it wasn't the prettiest game tonight, when you've lost four or five in quick succession you take any win. That's something to build on."
Filed by Johnny Proby
