Michael Owen and Dion Dublin traded their 21st goals of the season in a rousing match which ebbed and flowed throughout and delivered the correct result, albeit it one that puts Liverpool's chances of overhauling Man United for the second Champion's League spot in serious doubt.

Owen, whose searing pace has been the key to his arrival as the Premiership's brightest young striking star, made his mark this time with a combination of split-second awareness and excellent close control.

Coventry had to rely on Dublin's penalty for their equaliser but can derive greater satisfaction from the point gained, even though they needed all three to keep alive a slim chance of qualifying for Europe next season. Their manager Gordon Strachan has distanced himself from such talk, preferring to concentrate on ensuring that his side are not involved in another relegation dog-fight, and yesterday he was stretched to the limit with his midfield.

"We did not have the status of Liverpool in that department and really had no right to match them," said Strachan, whose son Gavin, Paul Telfer and the influential George Boateng were all missing. "But it was heart-warming the way we gave them a rough time. You can buy players. You cannot buy spirit. We were absolutely terrific in the first half."

Dublin had missed two chances before Liverpool broke away to take the lead in the 34th minute. Danny Murphy's corner came loose to Stig Inge Bjornebye, whose header forward was pulled down by Owen. The 18-year-old left Gary Breen floundering before giving Steve Ogrizovic no chance.

Coventry drew level two minutes into the second half. Dublin released Huckerby, who was brought down by Phil Babb. Dublin sent Brad Friedel the wrong way from the spot.

Ogrizovic saved one-handed from Paul Ince, who later shot straight at the goalkeeper. Ogrizovic did well to deny Murphy in injury-time, although a goal then would have been so unkind on Coventry. After watching a television replay of the build-up to Coventry's goal, Liverpool's manager Roy Evans was convinced that the ball had gone out of play before Darren Huckerby cut in on goal.

Evans also felt that a penalty should have gone Liverpool's way when Owen went down under a challenge from Breen. He was scathing about the referee Neale Barry, saying: "He refused to talk to me about it. His arrogance was out of order. The sad thing is that with that attitude he will probably go far."

Jamie Redknapp went off 15 minutes from time with a knee injury and Steve McManaman carried an ankle injury into the match, but Evans said that both would still report to the England squad for the match with Portugal.

Redknapp however is a major doubt and McManaman was said to be "very sore". Another casualty from yesterday was Dominic Matteo, who had stitches in an ankle wound.

Coventry City: Ogrizovic, Shaw, Burrows, Breen, Nilsson, Whelan, Soltvedt, Boland (Williams 88), Hall, Huckerby, Dublin. Subs Not Used: Hedman, Moldovan, Eustace, Shilton. Booked: Hall. Goals: Dublin 47 pen.

Liverpool: Friedel, Jones, Babb, Bjornebye, Matteo, McManaman, Leonhardsen, Redknapp (Riedle 74), Ince, Owen, Murphy. Subs Not Used: James, Kvarme, Berger, Carragher. Booked: Ince. Goals: Owen 33.

Referee: N S Barry (Scunthorpe).

Cliftonville had to wait and worry before unleashing the pent-up celebrations which followed their first Irish League championship win for 88 years.

They had drawn 1-1 with Glentoran at Solitude but had to suffer all sorts of agonies because the Coleraine-Linfield game kicked off an hour later.

It became significant, with the scoreless draw an unlikely result handing the Premier Division title to Cliftonville.

Their chairman, Jim Boyce, hit out at the handling of the situation by the Irish League. "Both matches should have started together. It was a ridiculous decision but all of that does not matter now. We are champions," he said.

Boyce saluted his manager, Marty Quinn, and the men who brought it about.