Damien Duff had managed a spectacular equaliser between Liverpool’s strikes, all in front of the England manager.

It was a World Cup bound Irishman who struck next. Damien Duff cut in at high speed from the left, played a double one-two with first Nils-Eric Johansson and then Tugay - leaving Heskey a bemused bystander before drilling the ball past Jerzy Dudek’s right hand for the equaliser.

Murphy continued to be at the heart of things. On 30 minutes, when Gerrard’s dangerous cross was hurled into the box, Murphy flung himself bravely into the six yard box and sent the ball bouncing over the bar while colliding with Kelly and Craig Short.

The midfielder again needed plenty of treatment before being helped off behind the goal and more treatment followed before he was back into the fray.

Eriksson was also seeing Owen playing in the withdrawn role he has occupied of late for Liverpool, and one run and shot was inches wide with Kelly a spectator.

Gerrard then gifted the ball in midfield to Jansen, who surged forward before feeding Cole who attempted a clever flicked shot that Dudek held at full stretch.

Anelka then restored Liverpool’s lead with a cracker. Riise charged down the left and squared the ball to the Frenchman who produced a burst of stunning pace to leave Short in his wake before calmly guiding the ball wide of Kelly.