No substitute for enduring class of Owen

West Ham United 1 Liverpool 1

By Michael Owen's terms, it had taken an eternity. But finally, gratefully, rapturously, the England striker celebrated that elusive 100th Liverpool goal just when those around him thought they would have to wait until 2002 to witness him achieve that distinction.

In fact, it had only been three games since the European Player of the Year last scored. But if the wait was not exactly exerting a heavy pressure on those young shoulders it was certainly becoming an irritant and it was probably not helped yesterday by the caretaker manager Phil Thompson delaying his introduction until 12 minutes after half-time.

Even then, the end of normal time was beckoning and Liverpool were still a goal adrift when Owen picked up Emile Heskey's knock-down from Jari Litmanen's cross and found the net with as judiciously struck an effort as any in his previous 99.

As Owen wheeled away in sheer jubilation, the Liverpool bench rushed to the edge of the pitch to acclaim him. Sammy Lee actually darted on to it. At the final whistle, the hulking David James picked the diminutive forward off the ground as though he was lifting a 10-year-old mascot rather than a 22-year-old footballer. It was a decent gesture of congratulation for his former Anfield team-mate, particularly after a goal which had turned three points into one.

"Never more timely," reflected Thompson. "It's been a great year for Michael and in this final game of 2001 he's produced the goods. It's as though it was written." Thompson added: "People have been asking me whether it has been preying on his mind and the answer is no it hasn't. Michael knew that because he's prolific it would come very soon."

"It's been an incredible year for me," Owen said. "There have been so many memories to cherish, but my goals against Germany, in the FA Cup final and all that Liverpool won last season are the stuff that dreams are made of. Some times it's hard to believe that all this has happened to me. But I believe that 2002 could be just as significant."

It was perhaps as well for another Liverpool player that Owen did attain that milestone. Otherwise this morning the focus would be on the failings of a fellow striker. For once, the gifts were handed to Saint Nicolas but in the spirit of the season he duly handed them back unopened, Monsieur Anelka failing to score from the kind of opportunities in quick succession that he used to put away with aplomb for Arsenal.

With both Owen and Steven Gerrard on the bench, there was a vulnerable look to the Liverpool line-up. However Paolo Di Canio, who was serving a one-match ban, was missing, too, which meant that Frédéric Kanouté and Jermain Defoe were in tandem for the first time this season.

Anelka, shirt out of shorts and meandering around the pitch in the deceptively lethargic manner so associated with the former Highbury enfant terrible, forced James to turn the ball over the bar in the early minutes. But that apart, it was West Ham who showed the greater ingenuity, with Joe Cole delighting the crowd – and no doubt the watching Sven Goran Eriksson – with his intricate and impudent ball skills.

Trevor Sinclair, who should employ his spare time as a circus trick cyclist such is his current propensity for that activity, was at it again, but more importantly his splendid approach work on the flank made a significant contribution to the Hammers' first-half supremacy.

But the visitors were always a threat on the break. John Arne Riise just cleared the bar with a long-range attempt and James was fortunate that Don Hutchinson was in place to clear off the line after he flapped at a Gary McAllister corner. Then, approaching the half-hour, Anelka was finally presented with the invitation to open his account when Tomas Repka's attempted clearance struck a Liverpool player. His first effort, straight at the sprawling James might have been forgivable, but giving the goalkeeper the chance to save again from the rebound definitely was not.

West Ham responded with a vengeance. Kanouté and Hutchinson went close as a goal looked inevitable, and seven minutes before the break, Sinclair's pass found Defoe, whose run across the box culminated in the ball running lose. To Liverpool's despair they discovered that the recipient was the in-form Sinclair, who struck the ball with unerring accuracy between Dudek and post from just outside the area.

Gerrard replaced McAllister at the interval and shortly afterwards Owen came on for Murphy as Thompson opted to deploy three strikers in a second period in which Liverpool were encamped in the home half for long periods. But the end result was poor. Berger's attempt was saved by James' legs and Heskey crashed a shot into the side netting. In a rare moment of respite for West Ham, Carrick's full-blooded drive was diverted for a corner by Dudek and Defoe was also denied.

Thompson ensured a frantic finale by sending on Jari Litmanen, who added to Liverpool's attacking options. It appeared to no avail until Owen struck. Roeder suspected there may have been a handball by Heskey in the build-up, but typically refused to tarnish Owen's moment by making too much of it. Instead he concentrated on positive points. "Some of our football, especially in the first half, was scintillating," he said.

This, though, was Owen's day. Shame that Eriksson had already departed. But then he knows a thing or two about Master Owen already.

West Ham United 1 Liverpool 1

Sinclair 39, Owen 88

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 35,103