Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer scored excellent early goals to put Leeds in command, just reward for an outstanding display. Viduka and particularly the aggressive Smith were giving Sami Hyypia and Henchoz a rough ride, winning and holding the ball and generally upsetting any pattern Liverpool could muster.

Only Gerrard seemed to be able to compete with the authority Leeds were showing, elsewhere Liverpool were second best continually and Gerrard’s annoyance with the situation cost him a 26th-minute booking for bringing down Smith.

Liverpool finally got in a decent shot on 28 minutes when Gerrard’s ball in from the right was touched down by Fowler for Owen, whose pacy hook was held by Martyn.

But Leeds grabbed a second goal on 33 minutes, after Gerrard gave the ball away to Dacourt, who instantly played in Harry Kewell on the left.

The Aussie got past Henchoz far to easily and when the ball was fed into Lee Bowyer’s feet he took it past Sander Westerveld and tapped the ball into an empty net.

Mills got up on the right for a 40th-minute drive that flashed into the side netting.