Gerard Houllier has insisted Michael Owen has just been "unlucky and unfortunate" during his recent barren spell in front of goal.
Owen, despite a willing and battling display, fired blanks again last night when Birmingham stole an injury-time point at Anfield - the first time in over 30 years Liverpool have drawn 2-2 in three successive league games.
More worryingly for Houllier, the City comeback marked the second consecutive game in which Liverpool have surrendered two goal leads.
Houllier knows his defence needs sorting out quickly with time running out before the Reds embark on their Champions League campaign in Valencia next Tuesday.
Houllier, who claims Liverpool should "be top of the league by five points by now", has been trying to bed in a new front-line combination ever since spending £10 million on Senegal star El Hadji Diouf, and it looks like Owen is suffering.
At no time last season did Owen manage such a bleak a run of just one goal in six games.
But Houllier has thrown his full support behind Owen who is currently stuck on 111 club goals - a number cricketers regard with suspension and nickname 'Nelson'.
Now Owen must feel like a stranded batsmen as he tries to add to his formidable total from 210 games.
Houllier said: "Michael could have had a hat-trick, I have no worries about him.
"I don't just feel sorry for Michael Owen, I feel for my team. He has been a bit unlucky and unfortunate but then goals will come, I have no worries about that.
"We have conceded six in three games and that is far too many considering our standards.
"It's very unfortunate, very disappointed for the players. The last two games have been the same scenario. We have been in command and leading 2-0 and we have let the opposition come back into the game.
"But I don't see any kind of success that is achieved without that sort of adversity. But we have the mental strength to respond positively to our problems, and that will be done very quickly.
"The last three games we could have scored 10 more goals than we have scored."
Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool's early strikes and now seven of their 10 goals this term have come from midfield.
Houllier added: "We are getting what I have asked for and that is more goals from midfield, but just imagine what we will be like when our strikers are on their form also."