Heskey gives ’Pool advantage

Celtic 1, Liverpool 1

Celtic had taken a second minute lead through Henrik Larsson his 35th goal of the season - but Emile Heskey's 17th-minute equaliser set the standard for a controlled Liverpool display which sees them hold a narrow advantage going into next week's second leg.

Celtic began brightly and within the first 15 seconds Sutton won a header from Alan Thompson's cross and the ball dropped for Hartson to hook against the bar.

Liverpool did not survive much longer. Less than two minutes had gone when Hartson hooked the ball back across goal from Stilian Petrov's cross, Thompson returned it into the box again and Larsson to forced it home with his knee from barely a couple of yards out.

Danny Murphy fired a shot at Robert Douglas before Hartson again saw a fierce drive just clear the bar.

But Liverpool were level in the 17th minute after Steven Gerrard won possession.

Traore found John Arne Riise on the left and the Norwegian surged on before slipping the ball to Heskey on the edge of the box then watched as the big striker drilled the ball past Douglas .

From being forced out of their stride by a confident Celtic, Liverpool were now in the game and they were being allowed to play in areas which had previously found men in hoops snapping at their heels.

England midfielder Gerrard came more into the game, springing from deep positions and roaming, making him hard to pick up.

However, Gerrard's England team-mate Owen was fighting almost a lone battle up front against Bobo Balde and Johan Mjallby.

Liverpool started the second period in a similar confident vein, with Gerrard and Hamann producing neat passing and controlling possession.

But Celtic had two quickfire appeals for penalties, one against Riise for handball and another when Hartson went down under a Traore challenge.

In the 52nd minute, Liverpool were awarded a free-kick following a Balde foul on Murphy. Riise swung the ball in and Diouf saw a header blocked in the six-yard box.

Celtic then almost took advantage of a Traore slip which sent Hartson away, his pass finding Larsson, but Jerzy Dudek produced a fine save.

Diouf almost created another chance for Heskey, who skied the ball over the bar. Then Heskey's touch in the 75th minute found Owen in space but he saw his shot sail past the near post.

Larsson, starting to looked tired by now after his month out, was replaced a minute later by Lambert.

Sutton was now back up front alongside Hartson, and provided a more obvious and stronger target.

Celtic still kept coming forward, though, with Guppy down one side and Smith on the other as they probed for the opening or lack of concentration that could be exploited.

There was a problem with Diouf near the end when he fell into the crowd after a run on the right. As he ran back onto the pitch he appeared to spit at the Celtic fans and a couple of enraged spectators were led away.

CELTIC: Douglas, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Smith, Lennon, Petrov, Sutton, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Riise, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann, Diouf, Owen, Heskey.

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)

Last night's results: UEFA Cup quarter-finals:

Celtic (1) 1 Liverpool (1) 1; Malaga (1) 1 Boavista (0) 0; Lazio (0) 1 Besiktas (0) 0; FC Porto (0) 0 Panathinaikos (0) 0 (late).