The Sunday Telegraph match report

Liverpool slipped back into their old, vulnerable ways and lost more important ground in the Premiership contest. West Ham's first goal at Anfield in a decade provided an unlikely obstacle to Liverpool's ambitions.

Frank Lampard converted a 24th-minute penalty to equalise Robbie Fowler's opener and expose the inconsistency of Gerard Houllier's team.

Fowler had waged virtually a one-man offensive and his goal was reward for his persistence. This was not the inspired and ruthless performance Liverpool had so often enjoyed at West Ham's expense. As Liverpool's football faltered the natives grew increasingly restless and so the visitors' confidence blossomed. And it was against the run of play that Michael Owen restored Liverpool's advantage just before half time, his shot taking a wicked deflection off the exasperated Rio Ferdinand.

Injuries and suspensions cut back the squads, notable among the absentees being Liverpool's Paul Ince and Dominic Matteo, and West Ham's Neil Ruddock and Paolo Di Canio.

However, Rigobert Song profited with a full home debut, while the inclusion of 17-year-old Joe Cole in the Hammers attack set up an intriguing sub-plot, comparison with 19-year-old Owen.

West Ham's manager Harry Redknapp, father of the Liverpool midfield player Jamie, will have welcomed a forward-looking approach. History offered scant encouragement as he embarked upon this fixture. His club last won a League match at Anfield in 1963 and had scored on only two of their previous 16 visits.

Liverpool have regained some of their aura of invincibility at home and launched themselves at West Ham yesterday with predictable self-belief. Fowler flexed his shooting muscles in the first minute, although his effort did not disturb Shaka Hislop.

Fowler was presented with another glimpse of goal in the 14th minute, when Lampard attempted to head back to his keeper, only to find the striker. Fowler hurriedly lashed at the ball and was even further off target.

Then Liverpool defender Phil Babb frustrated Lampard after Cole had engineered an opening.

Fowler's moment arrived at last courtesy of Redknapp's splendid pass and Vegard Heggem's determination and perception after 21 minutes. The wing-back rolled the ball back to Fowler, who applied an emphatic finish.

Liverpool held the lead for barely three minutes, Heggem playing a very different role this time. His mis-timed tackle chopped down Scott Minto and Lampard beat David James from the spot.

Trevor Sinclair, riding on a new wave of optimism, stretched James and the keeper was grateful to gather the ball at the second attempt.

A minute before the break fortune smiled on Owen as his shot veered off Ferdinand's past Hislop.

Owen's pace was not enough to defy the converging attentions of Ferdinand and Steve Potts, and Jamie Carragher headed away from Ian Pearce at the other end in the vibrant start to the second half.

Steve McManaman made a less than distinguished contribution to the Liverpool cause and was substituted by Patrik Berger, to the approval of the gallery.

Marc Keller appeared for Minto, and produced an improbable equaliser after 73 minutes. Liverpool's defenders clearly thought his corner kick was bound for the side netting, but it crept inside the near post.

Goals : Fowler (22 mins), Lampard (24 pen), Owen (45), Keller (74).
Half-Time : 2-1 to Liverpool.
Booked: Carragher.
Attendance : 44,511.
Team (5-3-2): James, Heggem, Song, Staunton, Babb, Bjornebye (Riedle 77), Carragher, Redknapp, McManaman (Berger 66), Owen, Fowler.
Substitutes (not used): Friedel, Harkness, Ferri.
Referee : N. Barry (Scunthorpe).
League position: 6th (39 points after 26 matches).

Copyright - The Sunday Telegraph