Michael Owen destroyed Newcastle with his second hat-trick of the season to power Liverpool to within sight of the Champions League.

With Leeds losing Liverpool can claim third spot for certain if they win at home to Chelsea before their cup final double.

The little England striker had frightened the life out of the Geordies all afternoon with his pace and cunning, and he took his tally to 19 for the season.

At the end Owen grabbed the match ball away from referee Mark Halsey and threw it to boss Gerard Houllier for safe keeping, what looks like the first of a glittering array of trophies coming the way of the 21-year-old as well as his team-mates.

How the Geordies must hate the sight of him. This trio means he has hammered 12 in his last six games against Newcastle.

It also stakes his claim firmly for a place in next Saturday's FA Cup final starting line-up, having been left on the bench the last time Liverpool were in Cardiff when they lifted the Worthington Cup.

His quality finishing means Liverpool have won their last six on the trot, their best run of the season and just when it was needed most.

One league defeat in their last 16 Premiership matches just underlines the strength of character and sheer desire of a Liverpool side who are making it clear that they want everything!

It was another Anfield crunch, another make-or-break day for Liverpool, a situation they are pretty used to by now.

Game number 59 for the season and surprisingly only one change from the team that won at Bradford on Tuesday. Vladimir Smicer in for Danny Murphy.

Newcastle, still clinging to the hope of a UEFA Cup spot, had Shay Given in goal after recovering from a broken nose and damaged wrist, while Nol Solano was back from suspension.

And the Geordies were quick and eager from the off, fast to shut down opponents and harassing defenders deep in their own half.

But there always looked a danger in the heart of their own defence, frequently square and slow to react.

The danger of a high-speed Owen was obvious. Twice Owen was played through early on. After just 70 seconds he scampered away from Andy O'Brien to force Given into a brave save at his feet, and then got behind the Newcastle man again, but was forced wide and his cross was picked off by Given.

It was not all plain sailing in Liverpool's usually reliable back line either.

Aaron Hughes connected with a fourth minute Solano free-kick that sailed over, but he should never have had so much space in the box.

Carl Cort tested Sander Westerveld with a fierce low 20-yarder on 21 minutes, but Liverpool's most persistent outlet - Smicer - threatened something every time he was in possession.

One ball in from the left saw Owen rise unmarked to plant a downward header just wide of a post, with Given a spectator.

But the danger of Owen's pace against a continually flat back line paid dividends on 25 minutes.

Markus Babbel lifted a ball over Newcastle's defence and Owen was onto it like lightening to race on and drill home his 17th of the season and 110th in six games against the Geordies.

Next it was 36-year-old Gary McAllister who got through the Newcastle back line, only to be stopped in the act of shooting.

If the veteran could embarrass them, half the Kop were rating their chances by now!

Newcastle came back at Liverpool when Wayne Quinn got in on the left and saw his close range angled effort deflected over by Westerveld.

From the corner, lifted in by Solano, Nikos Dabizas arrived unmarked in the box to power a header inches over to cause another inquest in Liverpool's defence.

Clarence Acuna and Dabizas were both booked for fouls on Owen, about the only way his scampering runs could be halted.

Solano, with a long range shot just over, showed Newcastle still had desire and intent, but Given almost gifted Liverpool a second on 44 minutes when a poor kick out only reached McAllister, just 10 yards away.

But the keeper redeemed himself by diving in the way of the Scot's shot.

Fatigue seemed to be getting the better of Liverpool, and they were very fortunate not to concede an equaliser 10 minutes after the break.

Kevin Gallacher found space behind Babbel to exploit, and his cross reached the far post for Solano to meet with a downward header that somehow Stephane Henchoz hacked off the line.

One was clearly unlikely to be enough, and Liverpool tried to hit back with a Steven Gerrard shot that was deflected while Owen had a 20-yarder that evaded Given as well as the far post.

But Solano was a constant danger on the right while Wayne Quinn came more into the game on the other flank. Newcastle were not giving this one up.

Fresh legs were needed by Liverpool and they arrived in the shape of Danny Murphy and Patrik Berger for Gerrard and Smicer.

Berger had been on the pitch for just four minutes when he created a quality second for Owen.

The Czech spun and twisted into space 25 yards out with clever control, and then found Owen's run into space with a brilliant guided pass.

Owen was away again and cooly lifted the ball over the despairing Given.

Newcastle had been waiting to bring on Lomana Lua Lua and Christian Bassedas to force the issue their way while all this was going on.

Suddenly the effectiveness of such a ploy was negated by Owen's second.

There was breathing space now and Robbie Fowler replaced the tireless Emile Heskey with 15 minutes left.

The introduction of another Newcastle striker in Shola Ameobi was not going to salvage things now.

As if to rub it in, Fowler hit a fabulous 40-yard ball to send Owen away yet again and created the third.

Owen took the ball wide and then drilled it in off the far post for his hat-trick.

Just four games to go now, two of them cup finals, and with the rewards for Liverpool's best season in 16 years now tantalisingly close.

Teams:

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Gerrard (Murphy 64), McAllister, Hamann, Smicer (Berger 69), Heskey (Fowler 76), Owen.

Subs Not Used: Ziege, Arphexad.

Goals: Owen 25, 72, 81.

Newcastle: Given, Barton, Dabizas, Hughes, O'Brien, Quinn, Speed, Acuna (Bassedas 73), Solano, Cort (Ameobi 76), Gallacher (Lua-Lua 73).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Stephen Caldwell.

Booked: Acuna, Dabizas.

Att: 44,363

Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).