Robbie Fowler trooped disconsolately off the Elland Road pitch after his old club Liverpool played Leeds off the park.

Fowler left Anfield for Leeds because he couldn't dislodge the likes of Emile Heskey and Michael Owen from the team - and ironically Heskey and Owen produced three of Liverpool's four goals as the Reds climbed confidently into third place.

Rio Ferdinand conceded an own goal in the 16th minute, Heskey struck twice in the second half and Owen headed the fourth to complete the rout just before the final whistle.

Leeds had Harry Kewell and Olivier Dacourt back in their starting line-up, but Jonathan Woodgate and Seth Johnson were out injured, while Alan Smith and Danny Mills continued their suspensions.

Liverpool welcomed back Steve Gerrard after a neck injury, while Owen, Danny Murphy and John Arne Riise returned after being rested against Leicester in midweek. Abel Xavier, Liverpool's new signing from Everton, was on the bench.

With the points precious to both teams, there was no shortage of commitment and Gerrard set the trend with a crunching tackle on Dacourt in the opening 20 seconds, followed by an equally physical challenge from Sami Hyypia on Fowler.

Leeds enjoyed most of the early possession, only to fall behind to Ferdinand's own goal. Former Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo fouled Heskey near the left touchline. Murphy planted the free-kick into the goalmouth where, under pressure from Gerrard, Ferdinand stuck out a leg and prodded the ball into his own net from six yards.

Ferdinand had a quick opportunity to atone for the error but just as the Leeds captain was about to shoot he had the ball hacked off his toes by the alert Jamie Carragher eight yards out.

Liverpool defended stubbornly, with Gerrard putting in some especially strong tackles in midfield, watched by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson who must have been impressed with the efforts of the 21-year-old.

Referee Graham Poll rightly showed Carragher the yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Lee Bowyer in a first half spoiled by a strong wind and Liverpool's initial defensive approach in attempting to protect their slender lead.

Leeds' passing left a lot to be desired and their fans became progressively more restless with an equaliser proving elusive.

In fact it was Liverpool who almost added to their score in injury time of the first half. Poll surprisingly ruled that Dietmar Hamann's free-kick had been touched over by Nigel Martyn when it seemed the keeper made no contact.

From the resultant corner Owen's half-hit shot was saved in the congested goalmouth and Poll left the field at half time to a chorus of boos from the home supporters.

There was no fluency about the game and it was slack Leeds marking that allowed Gerrard to send Owen sprinting through the centre. Owen's well struck rising shot was arrowing towards the net but Martyn responded by brilliantly turning the ball over his bar.

Liverpool were much more assertive after the break and after Leeds had replaced Dacourt with Jason Wilcox, two goals in three minutes by Heskey left Leeds no hope. His first arrived on 61 minutes when, looking suspiciously offside, he took Gerrard's splendid pass, raced round the advancing Martyn and squeezed the ball just inside the near post from a narrow angle.

Then John Arne Riise's corner dropped kindly for Heskey who hooked an unstoppable shot past Martyn.

Leeds had a penalty claim rejected when Fowler fell to Heskey's challenge and Jerzy Dudek pulled off two excellent saves to foil Mark Viduka and Fowler.

Kewell's contribution came to a disappointing end when he was booked for dissent and substituted by Robbie Keane a minute later.

Leeds desperately tried to repair some of the damage but Owen had the final word.

Owen headed into the net after a long throw was back headed by Heskey and the England international fired home from close range.

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