Owen missed a string of first-half chances - but the nearest Liverpool came was a Steven Gerrard header against a post.

Emile Heskey returned to the forward line in place of Jari Litmanen, while Steven Gerrard came in for the suspended Dietmar Hamann.

Fulham, unbeaten in seven league games, brought in Sean Davis for Sylvain Legwinski.

The opening was punctuated by stoppages and free-kicks, but Davies and Steed Malbranque found time and space in midfield to bring Barry Hayes and Louis Saha frequently into the game.

Liverpool's man of the moment Owen had one looping header saved by Edwin van der Sar, while Saha tested Jerzy Dudek from long range.

Similar efforts from Patrik Berger and Gerrard failed to trouble Fulham's keeper.

Only a superb tackle in the box by Gerrard on 19 minutes halted Luis Boa Morte in full flow after he had cut out a Sami Hyypia pass.

Fulham's fans abused John Arne Riise from the start, every time he came near the ball.

Their "mummy's boy" chant referred to the Norwegian's decision not to join Fulham in the summer and head for Liverpool - on the advice of his mother, who was also his agent.

Saha worked his way dangerously across the box looking for a shooting angle, and even though he scuffed his effort, the ball fell to Collins who forced Dudek into a smart, low saved.

Fulham were not doing the expected - sitting back and defending in depth - like the majority of visitors to Anfield. They worked hard to deny Liverpool time and space and constructed their moves, and produced plenty of enterprise of their own.

Owen almost scored, though on 28 minutes when he took a pass from Jamie Carragher and turned seven yards out to fire his shot far too close to van der Sar.

Hayes forced his way into the box three minutes later, twisting and turning, and only a fine saving tackle from Stephane Henchoz averted danger. From the corner, Alain Goma saw a header palmed away by Dudek.

Van der Sar stopped Owen again on 39 minutes, throwing himself at a low shot when the Liverpool star turned into space. The ball bounced up and onto the roof of the net.

Gerrard then nodded the ball onto a post following a Gary McAllister free-kick after a foul on Riise five minutes from the break.

Then Owen turned Goma and cruised into the box to fire in a shot that Steve Finnan deflected wide. Van der Sar was in action again, hurling himself to scoop a Gerrard lob away.