Not seven goals this time, only one - but what a goal.

Not even half an hour of Alan Shearer could save Newcastle from a third defeat by the Reds in 23 days.

Michael Owen has spent the five months Shearer has been out of action staking arguably the strongest claims of any striker to join the skipper in Glenn Hoddle's squad next summer.

And tonight the 18-year-old picked Shearer's second major test back on the comeback trail as the occasion to produce a match-winner of true international class

Owen's supremely-struck 12th of the season hammered out a stunning personal message to put Liverpool back in the title race and move them within five points of Manchester United.

It was a goal that showed all Owen's promise and potential, even if Liverpool were never really convincing.

Paul Ince appeared to have run into a 17th minute cul-de-sac as he gave the ball away to Jon Dahl Tomasson.

But with the Dane dawdling, Ince whipped the ball away from him from behind, leaving flat-footed Newcastle appealing in vain for a freekick.

Owen, though, was vibrantly alive, scuttling into space on the left and controlling Jason McAteer's ball before crashing an unstoppable right-footer in off the underside of the bar.

Not even Shearer's walk-on role on the hour could change things in Newcastle's favour, as Owen - as impressive as partner Robbie Fowler was disappointing - continued to menace the visitors.

Only an excellent display by Shaka Hislop, and continued nervousness at the other end, kept Newcastle in the hunt.

In the first half Steve Watson was excellent in a back three and Aaron Hughes man-marked Steve McManaman as Liverpool started fast, Oyvind Leonhardsen and Owen both running into space on the left.

The absence of the suspended David Batty was just as an important Shearer's delayed entrance as Newcastle creaked and nearly trailed in the sixth minute.

McManaman found the rampaging Ince and his cross found Leonhardsen at the back post.

Shaka Hislop's reaction stop to foil the Norwegian was first-class, although Robbie Fowler knew he should have converted the rebound instead of sending the ball over the bar.

Owen's sensational finish for his 12th of the season 11 minutes later showed Fowler how it should be done, yet video evidence confirmed Newcastle's outraged case that the scything Ince had played Tomasson before he got any of the ball.

Liverpool's defence has been their Achilles heel often in recent years, and with David James having another of jittery evening, and too much sloppiness in front of him, they were never secure.

In 1996 an over-adventurous rush from James had gifted Tino Asprilla a goal and tonight, after Liverpool lost possession on half-way, he repeated that unwise advance.

John Barnes, back at Anfield for the first time since his free transfer departure, put Tomasson through and James came flying outside his box to get a toe to the ball.

But it went straight into the path of Keith Gillespie - who had previously been Newcastle's only out-ball - and while James scrambled back to his line, he fumbled Gillespie's low effort.

Tomasson pounced instantly, prodding the ball into the vacant net, but the flag - rightly, by half-a-yard - was up to cut the celebrations dead.

James rode his luck again four minutes later, as Steve Harkness hacked John Beresford's flick up in the air to spark panic stations.

The keeper should have dealt with it comfortably. Instead, suddenly aware of Tomasson bearing down on him, the ball bounced off James' fingers onto the bar before he finally grabbed it.

Dominic Matteo's distribution was a weakness, but when he and then Ince strode forward with the ball Newcastle allowed them to advance too far.

But while there were openings for Owen and then Leonhardsen, neither could hit the target.

After half-time, Dalglish's men had possession but little or no bite, though with only one goal between them the stage seemed set for the England skipper to arrive.

Moments before he did, Fowler squandered a glorious chance to perhaps finish it off by firing wide from 18 yards.

Shearer's arrival made the travelling Toon Army believe, and straightaway a disconcerted Phil Babb almost allowed himself to be muscled off the ball as the pair chased a clearance.

A Stuart Pearce freekick - his third - forced James to save, yet it was Liverpool who stepped on the gas.

Leonhardsen forced a save from Hislop, Jamie Redknapp fired a foot over and the sniping Owen, reacting quicker than the Newcastle defence, almost squeezed past the diving keeper.

Owen went even closer 13 minutes from time, waiting for exactly the right moment before curling right-footed towards the far post, with Hislop making an excellent save.

Shearer himself held off Matteo for a header that was always too high, as Liverpool's failure to kill the Magpies off threatened to be costly.

Leonhardsen's volley was high, another chance gone begging, and Newcastle pressed and pressed in the final stages. The break they craved did not come. Owen proved the difference.

Liverpool: James, McAteer, Babb, McManaman, Leonhardsen, Fowler, Redknapp, Harkness, Ince, Owen, Matteo.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Berger, Carragher, Riedle, Friedel.

Booked: McAteer, Babb, McManaman.

Goals: Owen 17.

Newcastle: Hislop, Barton, Beresford (Ketsbaia 82), Lee, Barnes (Shearer 61), Pearce, Tomasson, Gillespie, Watson, Pistone, Hughes.

Subs Not Used: Given, Rush, Terrier.

Booked: Barton.

Att: 42,791

Ref: G P Barber (Pyrford)