It had to be Michael Owen, the gambling man you can always bet on when the going gets tough.

After a week when the England man's betting habits have been laid before the nation, he put all the controversy behind him by grabbing the extra time goal that sent Liverpool back to Cardiff for the Worthington Cup final on March 2.

It had taken a massive effort from the Anfield men to finally overcome Neil Warnock's brave Yorkshire side.

The First Division promotion-chasers fought until they dropped, pushing Liverpool to the extent of their fitness and courage to reach the final of a competition they won two seasons ago.

United arrived for this semi-final second leg a goal up from the first acrimonious leg, seen El Hadji Diouf - on the day he was named African Player of the Year again - level things after just eight minutes.

But it was only in the 107th minute that Owen galloped away to finish things with a neat chip over Paddy Kenny for his 16th goal of the season.

The war of words from the first leg became compelling, powerful action as Liverpool sought to wipe away the memory of their nightmare at Bramall Lane while the gutsy Blades were not going to give up on a potential glory day in Cardiff without a fight.

But Liverpool, having allowed themselves to be dragged into a slanging match by the upstarts from Yorkshire, needed to make their superior ability tell. They did so, but it took them a long time to settle things.

The first match, full of acrimony on and off the pitch, left the Blades 2-1 ahead and with one foot in their first major final since 1936. And even though they conceded a goal early on, they were never going to roll over.

Liverpool included Vladimir Smicer in place of the suspended Djimi Traore as the only change from the side that won 1-0 at Southampton on Saturday. John Arne Riise dropped into the defence to allow the Czech a free role in midfield behind Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

Warnock started with just one striker, former Tranmere frontman Wayne Allison, with Peter Ndlovu and Michael Tonge - the two-goal hero from the first clash - to work the flanks.

The end product of that controversial first leg meant that Anfield was sold out and throbbing with atmosphere, 6,000 Blades fans certainly adding to the occasion.

The pace was electric and after just two minutes a clever dummy from Owen confused Robert Page and allowed the Liverpool man to set up El Hadji Diouf, unmarked on the right, but the Senegal star chose not to shoot first time and he was instantly swamped by defenders.

United responded when, after Jamie Carragher had flattened Tonge, Wayne Quinn's free kick found Allison ahead of Sami Hyypia but the striker could only direct his header into the Kop.

But on eight minutes Liverpool were ahead, and level on the tie. Owen, again, twisted and turned to create an opening that forced Kenny into a flying save.

Heskey laid the ball off and this time when the ball fell to Diouf he lashed it first time into the net from 15 yards, off the inside of a post.

Liverpool had set about the Blades like men possessed, clearly hurt by the experience at Bramall Lane and set on retribution.

Owen's pace constantly threatened to unhinge United, while again Heskey looked assured as a central striker, and one turn and shot forced Kenny into a low save to emphasise the point.

But the Blades, despite being under pressure, worked their way back into the game and Chris Kirkland needed to be sharp to hold a Ndlovu effort.

Liverpool should have taken greater control during a spell when they were on top. Another Liverpool break saw Owen send Smicer down the left and his cross from the bye-line was hooked into the ground and then up onto the bar by Diouf on 26 minutes.

The Liverpool threat was potent and varied, but United were holding their nerve and worried the home side's defence on 39 minutes when Jagielka rose unchallenged to power a header wide from Quinn's corner.

United then lost Nick Montgomery two minutes from the break, carried off with an ankle injury, with Tommy Mooney, on loan from Birmingham, coming on for his debut.

Liverpool came out for the second half - with Carragher having had five stitches in a head wound -hell-bent on some clear water between themselves and the belligerent Yorkshiremen, but Diouf, Gerrard and Smicer wasted openings.

It gave United increasing confidence, and when they started to fizz crosses and driven passes into the Liverpool box, the alarm bells were ringing.

The Blades upped their tempo, driven on now by Warnock on the line, and Liverpool were under increasing pressure.

Twice in the first period of extra time, Owen squirmed into the box and almost settled it.

But still the tension mounted, Bruno Cheyrou and Paul Peschisolido were thrown into the fray, somebody, somehow, needing to finish it.

Two minutes into the second period, Owen did just that when he was put clear by Gerrard's pass to clip his shot over Kenny to give Liverpool that breathing space.

Owen could easily have had another couple in those dying minutes, but one had been enough to give Liverpool another final in Cardiff to look forward to.

Teams

Liverpool: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Diouf, Murphy, Gerrard, Smicer (Cheyrou 95), Heskey, Owen.

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Baros, Diao, Mellor.

Booked: Smicer, Kirkland.

Goals: Diouf 9, Owen 107.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Quinn (Ten Heuvel 115), Montgomery (Mooney 45), Brown, McCall, Tonge, Ndlovu, Allison (Peschisolido 105).

Subs Not Used: Kozluk, de Vogt.

Booked: Quinn, Page. Agg (3-2) After Extra Time

Att: 43,837

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).