Owen's record goal saves Liverpool's bacon

Olimpija Ljubljana 1 Liverpool 1

They had failed to stamp their quality on this first round, first leg and found themselves behind to an Anton Zlogar goal after 66 minutes.

But Owen headed his 21st goal in Europe with 13 minutes left to earn Gerard Houllier's men a share of the spoils in this first round first leg clash in Slovenia.

The Slovenians started with pace and spirit, skipper Rudonja working across midfield looking for gaps. And Liverpool's rather sloppy initial approach gave the 32-year-old plenty of encouragement.

In the first minute Anton Zlogar cut in from the left and let fly with a 20-yarder that strayed a yard wide.

Liverpool's response was two driven crosses from the right from Murphy and Emile Heskey, that were plucked away from Owen's waiting feet.

The best chance fell to Le Tallec after 13 minutes when Vladimir Smicer skipped through midfield to find the youngster moving in unmarked on the right but the 18 year-old drove over from a good position.

Then Liverpool were forced into bringing on Gerrard after only 14 minutes. Murphy had previously gone down with an ankle injury.

Olimpija were still showing some impressive control and passing, and Nedim Jusufbeaovic saw an edge of the box shot charged down.

Then Owen set up Smicer, and the Czech international's fierce shot was well saved by Borut Mavric.

Owen had a goal disallowed on 27 minutes when he was ruled offside after following in a Diao drive which Mavric saved low to his left.

A minute later Olimpija lost defender Enes Handanagic, who was carried away to an ambulance, the result of getting a boot in the face from Sami Hyypia.

Jerzy Dudek was called into action on 30 minutes when he beat away a drive from Jusufbeaovic, and when Blaz Puc went for the rebound he was flagged offside.

Harry Kewell was then booked on 32 minutes for a foul on Janez Aljancic. The Australian then supplied the corner from which Igor Biscan's towering header was well held by Mavric.

Aljancic was the next to limp off, to be replaced by Jalen Pokorn.

Rudonja continued to threaten, and when he was played in by Jusufbeaovic on the left, he tested Dudek with a low shot.

Olimpija finished the half with 10 men, Igor Lazic being another casualty after a challenge with Heskey.

Dejan Grabic took over from Lazic from the restart, the Slovenians having now lost three of their starting back four.

A minute into the half, John Arne Riise's swirling left-wing cross was missed by three colleagues, Le Tallec the most guilty.

Dudek then had to be at his best to pull down a Zlogar hook after Puc had nodded the ball down to him.

Le Tallec then pushed a shot wide from six yards after Kewell had set him up.

Mavric then produced a stunning one handed save to turn away a curler from Kewell that looked to be heading for the top corner, Mavric next touching away a Gerrard drive.

Owen was working hard up front and rose at the far post on 64 minutes to head wide from a Le Tallec cross.

Heskey was the next to go close, heading wide from a Riise free-kick, before the Reds were stunned.

Jusufbeaovic was given too much time to set up a shot which eluded Dudek's dive and cannoned back off the post on 66 minutes and Zlogar followed up to fire the ball home.

Olimpija coach Suad Besirovic found himself sent to the stands by the Spanish referee for another arm waving outburst.

Finnan was then sent on to replace Diao after 69 minutes.

Liverpool's lack of challenge in front of the back four allowed Grabic to fire in a 20-yarder that fizzed wide.

Then in the 78th minute Owen got his record-breaking goal.

Riise's cross from the left found the striker leaping to send a header wide of Mavric.

Gerrard then missed a great chance to win the match when Smicer's ball found him arriving late on the far post, but the midfielder bundled his shot wide.

Gerrard again, from Heskey's pass, then forced Mavric into another save.