Liverpool had Michael Owen and Danny Murphy to thank for the strikes that set up a Battle of Britain showdown with Celtic in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

Owen's 18th goal of a confused season helped him equal Ian Rush's club record of 20 European goals and - if nothing else - sent Sir Alex Ferguson home with something to think about.

Ferguson was at Anfield to run the rule over Manchester United's Worthington Cup final opponents on Sunday and he witnessed Owen coming out of his mid-winter horrors.

The knowledge that Owen can still grab important goals will have left an impression on the Scot's mind.

Owen's record-equalling strike was followed by Murphy, whose 30-yard screamer slipped through the fingers of Auxerre goalkeeper Fabien Cool.

Steven Gerrard and Murphy were paired in central midfield - Dietmar Hamann left on the bench. El Hadji Diouf was utilised down the right and John Arne Riise on the left as Stephane Henchoz returned to central defence.

Auxerre, as expected, had highly-rated striker Djibril Cisse back to lead the attack after suspension, the only change from Guy Roux's side from the first leg with Mwaruwari Benjani dropping to the bench.

Everybody knew all about Cisse and his pace, strength and quality seemed to unsettle Liverpool from the start.

It took 16 minutes for Liverpool to produce their first effort, and it was indicative of their play with precious little coming from open play, so it was a long throw from Riise that created the danger.

Sami Hyypia nodded on in the box and Murphy spun on the edge of the area to fire just over the crossbar.

With such a flimsy lead, Liverpool looked uncertain even with plenty of possession- the hangover from Sunday's shambles at Birmingham evident.

Auxerre's response was a set play of their own when Khalilou Fadiga's corner to beyond the far post was nodded back by Cisse, dropping just wide of the far post.

One flash of class from Cisse was all it would have taken to level the tie and it nearly came when he emerged on the left of the box to unleash a low drive that just missed the far post.

A minute from half-time Cisse again found space in the box, and it took a fine save from Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek to stop the big striker.

The Reds needed some sort of creativity and Vladimir Smicer, just back from an ankle problem, was thrown into midfield for the second half.

The Czech star first set up Emile Heskey and then Owen, the little striker veering to the right to send in a shot which Cool blocked on his near post.

To prove they were still a threat, Lionel Mathis lashed in a low drive that Dudek was forced to beat out.

The next Liverpool substitution said it all.

Hamann was brought on for Diouf, which meant Murphy ended up on the right and the German back alongside Gerrard. It said as much about holding what they had than anything else.

But Liverpool were starting to keep the ball and threaten with Smicer doing his best to raise his side, and the anxious crowd. He collected the ball 25 yards out on 65 minutes and jinked his way into the box to unleash a thunderous shot that crashed just over the crossbar.

A minute later Liverpool got the goal they desperately needed but had barely looked like achieving - and it came from Owen.

Owen took a Murphy pass, fractionally onside, strode on and lifted the ball gently past Cool and into the bottom corner.

On 72 minutes the tie was over as a contest when Gerrard fed Murphy some 30 yards out and the tough little midfielder blasted a marvellous drive straight at Cool, who fumbled the ball into the net to send the Kop delirious.

Auxerre replaced Fadiga with Gauthier Akale, and Benjani took over from Cisse, the departing player hurling his shirt angrily into the dug-out, summing up the visitors' evening.

Teams

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz (Biscan 76), Hyypia, Traore (Smicer 45), Diouf (Hamann 62), Murphy, Gerrard, Riise, Owen, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Baros, Diao, Cheyrou.

Booked: Traore.

Goals: Owen 67, Murphy 73.

Auxerre: Cool, Radet, Boumsong, Mexes, Jaures, Faye, Tainio, Mathis, Lachuer, Fadiga (Akale 77), Cisse (Mwaruwari 77).

Subs Not Used: Hamel, Grichting, Gonzales, Perrier Doumbe, Sirieix.

Booked: Mathis, Tainio.

Agg (3-0)

Att: 34,252

Ref: A Lopez Nieto (Spain).