Reds in charge at half-time

Michael Owen’s 10th goal of the season gave Barclaycard Premiership leaders Liverpool the advantage after the first 45 minutes against West Ham at Anfield today.

The England striker was under fire earlier in the season after he netted just once in his first 10 games.

But two hat-tricks have followed, and today’s 28th-minute strike was his fifth goal in four games.

It was another quality effort from Owen too as he shrugged off the attentions of two defenders before calmly slotting past David James.

Manchester United and Southampton went into the break level at Old Trafford.

Phil Neville had crashed in only the fifth goal of his career after 15 minutes, smashing home Paul Scholes’ pass from the edge of the box.

But the lead lasted only three minutes, as Fabrice Fernandes produced a similar quality 18-yard strike past the diving Fabien Barthez to haul the Saints level.

The day’s other top-flight games – between Birmingham and Bolton, and West Brom versus Manchester City – were goalless at the break.