Rejuvenated Owen lifts Liverpool

Two goals from Michael Owen helped Liverpool FC to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Portsmouth FC in the English Premiership at Anfield tonight.

Liverpool fifth
The victory lifted Liverpool up three places to fifth with 42 points from 28 games as they chase fourth spot and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League. Portsmouth stayed third from bottom with 24 points, two adrift of Leicester City FC and safety.

Early advantage
Portsmouth surprisingly eliminated Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round and won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Fratton Park earlier in the season, but any nerves among the home side were settled as early as the sixth minute as Dietmar Hamann met Owen's cross with a powerful 20-metre volley to give his side the lead.

Owen on target
Owen, who missed a penalty in Liverpool's defeat at Southampton FC on Sunday, made it two shortly before the half-hour, converting Jamie Carragher's right-wing cross from close range.

Headed third
The England international forward struck again after 58 minutes with a flicked header from Steven Gerrard's corner.