Leeds' title ambitions were dealt a savage blow by a rampant Liverpool who stormed to victory in a quite sensational Premiership showdown.

Liverpool produced arguably their best performance of the season to make it nine successive home league games unbeaten - and a double over Leeds to make their day.

Whether Leeds' brave kids can recover from a mortal blow like this, on the day that Manchester United went six points clear at the top, remains to be seen. It will certainly be the definitive test of their character in a season of true promise from Elland Road.

But they walked into an inspired Liverpool who have now drawn level with third placed Arsenal on points and have reinforced their own Champions League credentials.

Three tremendous long-range goals from Dietmar Hamann, Patrik Berger and Danny Murphy settled this full-blooded battle and Leeds can have few complaints.

Their boss David O'Leary had claimed beforehand that Liverpool can still win the title. Maybe a little fanciful, but they are within touching distance of the sort of form and power that made the Anfield club such a formidable machine in days gone by.

They attacked with pace and drive throughout, with young Steve Gerrard superb and surely destined to be in next week's England squad after this marvellous display.

Not far behind was the jinking, sometimes infuriating, Vladimir Smicer, who led Leeds a fearful dance throughout.

With Hamann, Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz also outstanding -plus Berger's flowing skills - it was a day to remember for the Anfield hordes.

The continued absence of Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, not to mention Jamie Redknapp, seemed to inspire Liverpool into the sort of high-tempo power display needed to keep them in touch with the chase for European places.

Leeds, having won just two of their last five and having suffered a shattering FA Cup exit at Aston Villa last week, knew they dare not allow Manchester United to surge any further away at the top.

Liverpool tore into the Yorkshire side from the start in a cracking first half.

Nigel Martyn brilliantly saved a Berger 25-yarder as Liverpool went for the throat from the start.

Referee Mike Reed struggled to keep control of a match that saw thundering tackles all over the park, and he managed to book Hamann and Gerrard as well as Ian Harte - being given a torrid examination by Smicer - in that opening half.

Smicer, indifferent one moment and devastating with clever high speed skills the next, was in the mood.

He was playing in the "hole" behind a makeshift front pairing of Erik Meijer and Titi Camara, and Leeds rarely got a grip of him, apart from the one despairing Harte tackle that earned him his yellow card.

Smicer drifted from middle to right wing and was constantly unmarked, and he loved it.

It was a foul after 20 minutes by Stephen McPhail on Smicer after the Czech had evaded three tackles, that set up Liverpool's first half goal.

Hamann stepped up and sent a stunning 25-yard free-kick flashing past Martyn's flaying arms to give Liverpool a deserved lead.

Sander Westerveld had hardly been involved in the game until he produced a first class block when Lee Bowyer had broken clear, but Leeds could have been further behind at the break when Gerrard and Berger both wasted good openings.

The second half was an even better advert for the Premiership than the first. Leeds showed character, spirit and not a little spite to claw themselves back into the match.

Leeds fought every inch of the way even though Bowyer was lucky not to be booked for a blatant dive in the box.

Duberry was booked after 55 minutes for a body check on Gerrard as the teenager surged through the middle, and after 57 minutes Camara chipped Duberry, broke away and set up Smicer on the right, Martyn being forced to dive at his feet.

There was more controversy when Kewell went down under a Matteo challenge after 58 minutes, and referee Reed turned his back and raced away amid Liverpool chants of "cheat" aimed at the Aussie, while David O'Leary and Houllier exchanged views on the touchline.

Leeds finally broke away to grab an equalised after 63 minutes. Jason Wilcox got away on the left and fired in a cross that Bowyer met with a downward header as he ran in from the right.

Liverpool's response was emphatic. Gerrard, having a storming game for Liverpool, found Meijer with a great 40-yard crossfield ball, and the big Dutch striker unleashed a shot that flashed wide of the far post.

Smith was next in the book for a late challenge on Hamann.

But Liverpool just went up a gear to retrieve the situation. Next to try his luck was Berger, who from 15 yards fired in a drive that Martyn saved brilliantly.

But Berger was not to be denied. On 69 minutes he took a pass from Smicer and unleashed a breathtaking 25-yarder that crashed into the top corner.

Leeds would not give in, and Kewell got clear of Henchoz and saw his cross-shot tipped away by Westerveld.

In the end it was substitute Murphy who settled the issue with a 20-yard volley that flew past Martyn in injury time to send Anfield wild.

Teams

Liverpool: Westerveld, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo, Smicer, Hamann, Gerrard, Berger, Meijer, Camara (Murphy 71).

Subs Not Used: Newby, Heggem, Nielsen, Staunton.

Booked: Hamann, Gerrard.

Goals: Hamann 19, Berger 69, Murphy 90.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Harte, Bakke, McPhail (Huckerby 75), Bowyer, Wilcox, Smith (Bridges 75), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Mills, Jones.

Booked: Harte, Duberry, Smith.

Goals: Bowyer 62.

Att: 44,793

Ref: M Reed (Birmingham).