A two-goal salvo from Emile Heskey's piled the misery on Wimbledon and boosted Liverpool's Champions' League dream.

The £11million man bagged his second and third goals in Liverpool colours and should have had a hat-trick as the Reds condemned the Crazy Gang to their sixth successive defeat.

Wimbledon, lacklustre in the first half, eventually made a real fight of things at Selhurst Park but is was Heskey who made the difference.

He had already missed a glorious chance when he put Gerard Houllier's team in front with a cool finish in the 36th minute. He doubled the lead after the break but Martin Andresen's goal, 20 minutes from time, took it to the wire.

The three points established Liverpool as the nearest challengers to Manchester United at the top of the Premiership and takes them a huge step closer to their first Champions' League qualification.

Liverpool had opened in self-assured mood, playing with confidence, almost an arrogance, inspired by the terrific run of form which has taken them into second place.

Dietmar Hamann and Steven Gerrard bossed the midfield in the first half while Heskey and Owen terrorised the Dons back-line with electric bursts.

Dean Blackwell produced a superbly-timed tackle inside the first minute to halt Owen's first jinking run of the afternoon.

Back on the ground where he burst onto the scene with a goalscoring debut three years ago, Owen bristled with energy and industry.

Hermann Hreidarsson chased back to dispossess him on the edge of the penalty area after a neat pass from Heskey proved the pair have struck an instant understanding.

Heskey latched onto an Owen pass in the 36th minute and beat Neil Sullivan with a classy finish.

There were no signs of any anxiety as the former Leicester star crashed the ball into the net, even though he had fluffed an almost identical chance 25 minutes earlier.

On that occasion, Hamann had threaded a pinpoint pass through Wimbledon's back four.

Heskey seized it with his usual aggression and charged towards goal but Sullivan blocked the low shot with his legs.

The Scotland keeper remained busy. Hamann tested him with a low free-kick and he tipped Owen's header over the bar after the England star out-jumped Kenny Cunningham at a corner.

Andreas Lund drove over from 25 yards in a rare Wimbledon foray into Liverpool territory and twice failed to find the target with headers.

The Crazy Gang were more boisterous after the break, putting the Reds under pressure with the type of helter-skelter football visiting teams have come to expect at Selhurst Park.

Hughes forced a full-length save from Sander Westerveld and Andy Roberts volleyed wide but Heskey's second put Liverpool further ahead.

Patrik Berger shaped a right-wing corner towards the near post, in the 64th minute, and Heskey leapt highest to glance his header into the net.

Berger should have made the points safe when Owen carved out a clear-cut opening, moments later, but the Czech dragged it across the face of goal and wide.

The Dons refused to lie down. Westerveld saved at point-blank range from Hreidarsson before sub Andresen scored his first for the club to set up a nail-biting finale for the thousands of travelling fans.

The Norwegian diverted a shot from fellow countryman Trond Andersen into the net after a goalmouth melee.

Wimbledon went hard for the equaliser. Hughes came closest with a low drive, saved by Westerveld, but Liverpool had chances as well as the game swung from end to end.

Sullivan saved from Berger and sub Titi Camara fired shots wide of either post.

Teams

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Hreidarsson, Blackwell (Leaburn 87), Jupp, Hughes, Roberts, Andersen, Cort, Gayle, Lund (Andresen 58).

Subs Not Used: Heald, Badir, Francis.

Booked: Andersen, Blackwell.

Goals: Andresen 70.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Matteo, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Berger, Hamann, Gerrard, Thompson (Smicer 63), Heskey (Camara 79), Owen (Murphy 83).

Subs Not Used: Heggem, Nielsen.

Goals: Heskey 36, 64.

Att: 26,102

Ref: M Riley (Leeds).