Owen misfires as Saints win

Southampton 2 Liverpool 0

Michael Owen crowned an afternoon of glaring misses with his second spot-kick blunder in a month as Southampton put the pressure back on Anfield boss Gerard Houllier and started Paul Sturrock’s St Mary’s reign in winning style with second half goals by James Beattie’s and Kevin Phillips.

Liverpool’s bid for the fourth Champions League place in the Premiership was left looking forlorn after Owen, who had earlier failed to beat goalkeeper Antti Niemi in a one-on-one and then stabbed against a post with the goal at his mercy, allowed the Finn a comfortable save after Jason Dodd brought down Harry Kewell.

Beattie had already put Southampton in front with his 13th goal this season and Phillips added a deflected shot five minutes from the end.