Liverpool show their cup steel

Playing with a verve and hunger that said that the Liverpool players are behind Gerard Houllier's statement that he wants to win all three of the cups Liverpool have entered this season, the Anfield club last night marched into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup with a degree of purpose that suggests Liverpool have every intention of reaching their first European final since Heysel, 1985.

Goals from Danny Murphy and Michael Owen in a first-half display that screamed of Liverpool's confidence gave Houllier's team an advantage that they never looked liked relinquishing, even if the second half was something of an anticlimax.

But what was just as convincing as the victory was the manner of the win. There was none of the anxiety that was visible in the previous round here against Roma. Owen, in particular, was as akin to the boy wonder he once was as at any time since France '98. Yet even he was upstaged by Steven Gerrard. The comparisons with Graeme Souness are clearly premature - Gerrard is only 21 - but ultimately they may not seem totally irrelevant. The watching Sven Goran Eriksson must have been delighted.

So Liverpool go into this morning's draw for the last four and on the form of the first half even Barcelona would not be unwelcome visitors.

If Eriksson, whose presence it seems is demanded before any English side kicks off these days, had come to check out the form and fitness of Emile Heskey, expected to lead the line last night, then he was disappointed with the Liverpool teamsheet. Heskey was on the bench.

Any Swedish sighs at that, however, will have been alleviated by the sight of Owen alongside Robbie Fowler instead. Owen was spiky from the off, and created danger as early as the fourth minute with a twist and turn in the box. Ten minutes later Ricardo Silva was booked for upending Owen. Even at that stage, Porto were under sustained pressure as Liverpool poured forward.

Just over a minute later the evening's first drama came with a Steven Gerrard instinctive half-volley from fully 35 yards that forced the Porto goalkeeper Pedro Espinha into a flying fingertip save reminiscent of Peter Schmeichel at full stretch. The save was almost as good as the shot - quite a compliment.

Liverpool's dander was up. Both Gerrard and Dietmar Hamman were spraying the ball around the park from the centre circle. In front of them Owen, looking as sharp as a teenager, was proving himself the most persistent threat on the pitch.

Having caused one booking, in the 25th minute Owen broke away at speed down the left and made Porto concede another. This time the Portuguese international Carlos Secretario was the culprit and he made his offence worse by refusing to get up, insisting he had an injury. All the delay did, though, was increase the volume inside Anfield, thereby implying a crescendo that finally crashed with Murphy's 33rd-minute opener.

Although warranted, it was a slightly suspicious breakthrough, given that Murphy at least partly controlled Gerrard's volleyed centre with his left arm. From there Murphy took a pace forward and slid a left-foot shot low beyond Espinha. Porto complaints about Murphy's arm were fairly muted.

At last Liverpool could relax. Maybe too much. Straight away at the other end, Porto cut through the home defence for the one and only time of the first half. Sander Westerveld had to be solid in blocking Clayton Cruz 10 yards from goal.

It was hard to tell if the warning was heeded. Houllier had talked of the problems of a one goal lead after a goalless first leg. Liverpool's response was to resume their red charge. Five minutes after Murphy's goal, another corner was won. Initially it was cleared but when Gerrard sent in the second version Owen met it on the run with his forehead. Espinha was not so impressive as he chased the ball into the back of the net. It was Owen's 14th goal of the season.

Even then Liverpool continued to press forward. Before half-time Espinha made a second fine, diving tip away, this time from Owen.

On the re-start the pattern of red domination continued. Espinha parried a Murphy effort, caught one from Owen and watched two from Owen and Fowler sail over his crossbar. Cruz did worry Westerveld belatedly with a shot from distance. But it is Liverpool under Houllier who are travelling far.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Hamann, Gerrard, Murphy, Smicer, Owen, Fowler. Subs: Ziege, Heskey, Arphexad, McAllister, Diomede, Wright, Litmanen.

FC PORTO: Espinha, Alves, Paredes, Secretario, Andrade, Alenitchev, Santos, Candido Costa, Clayton, Pena, Silva. Subs: Ovchinnikov, Aloisio, Deco, Drulovic, Chainho, Nuno, Maric.

Referee: Kim Nielsen (Denmark).