Nicolas Anelka's Liverpool debut was eclipsed by the man he left on the bench at Upton Park.

Michael Owen rescued a point for the Reds with an 88th-minute strike to end resurgent West Ham's hopes of another victory.

Trevor Sinclair had grabbed a 40th-minute goal for the home side when he smashed home a low right-foot shot from the edge of the box.

West Ham had been dominant throughout and Sinclair almost added a second with an outrageous overhead kick which brought a fingertip save out of Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek in the second half.

It had seemed that Anelka's debut would only be remembered for his first-half effort which brought a magnificent double save out of former Liverpool keeper David James.

But Owen saved the day when he latched onto Emile Heskey's pass from inside the box and fired home in typically clinical fashion.

The equaliser was hard on West Ham who had made light of the absence of Paolo di Canio through suspension, taking the game to their opponents as they sought to extend their unbeaten run to six Premiership matches.

Phil Thompson's decision to leave both Owen and Steven Gerrard on the bench raised a few eyebrows and appeared to have been misguided as Anelka carved out their only early chance.

West Ham's front three of Sinclair, Jermain Defoe and Frederic Kanoute were in irresistible form and all three could have bagged at least a brace as the visitors' midfield constantly teetered on the brink of collapse.

But Liverpool rallied after Owen's introduction for Murphy on the hour, Heskey shooting into the side netting and Patrik Berger's 25-yard free kick bringing another good save out of James.

Hammers boss Glenn Roeder's positive approach was paying dividends immediately with Kanoute narrowly failing to connect with Sinclair's left wing cross in the fifth minute.

Sinclair was causing all sorts of problems for Jamie Carragher down the left wing and his performance must have sent a timely reminder to England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson as he ponders his World Cup Squad.

Sinclair saw two identical strikes in the 20th minute flash inches wide of Dudek's right hand post as West Ham pressed.

James almost gave Liverpool a way into the game when he flapped at two crosses in the 25th minute, the second of which forced a rapidly back tracking Don Hutchison to clear off the line.

Hutchison almost scored at the other end from Michael Carrick's free kick, and, after Sinclair's opener, Defoe saw his shot on the turn tipped over by Dudek, and Kanoute headed wide from Joe Cole's cross.

But, just as the Hammers were getting ready to celebrate what would have been a vibrant victory, up stepped Owen to remind Liverpool's title challengers that he remains the man best placed to take Liverpool all the way.

Teams

West Ham: James, Schemmel, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Hutchison, Carrick, Cole, Sinclair, Kanoute, Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Foxe, Moncur, Courtois, Todorov.

Booked: Sinclair.

Goals: Sinclair 39.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Smicer (Litmanen 75), McAllister (Gerrard 45), Murphy (Owen 59), Berger, Anelka, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Wright.

Goals: Owen 88.

Att: 35,103

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).