LIVERPOOL last night succeeded where so many others had tried and failed, becoming the first team in almost two months to prevent Leeds from winning a Premiership game.

A magnificent sequence of seven consecutive successes had prompted some to suggest that Leeds might actually qualify for next season's Champions League; that is now highly unlikely.

It was a disappointing game at Elland Road which, sadly, will be remembered only for an injury to Liverpool's Michael Owen, who limped away midway through the first half after damaging a hamstring.

Even without the mercurial teenager, Liverpool put some recent indistinguished form behind them and played well enough to have won what was an exceedingly poor game.

But there is no disguising that these are hard times at Anfield, and the club's plight is made all the more unpalatable for them by the sight of old adversaries like Leeds moving so sure-footedly towards a brighter future.

Liverpool's defence was again weakened last night, Steve Staunton succumbing to injury and Cameroon's Rigobert Song being dragged away to fulfil an international commitment.

Robbie Fowler was in attendance, however, playing out time before prematurely hanging up his boots for the season and picking up the holiday brochures.

Not that he had so much as a foot in the early exchanges for attacking was the one thing Liverpool dare not contemplate as Leeds opened up at a furious pace - and promptly accelerated.

Serial success has served to instil Leeds with such confidence that they have acquired the habit of dominating and deciding games long before their opponents have formulated a game plan.

Liverpool's instinct of self preservation saw them safely through those uncomfortable early moments, but en route there were scares aplenty as successive Leeds attacks washed over their ramparts.

Indeed, when Liverpool did finally shake off their shackles it brought them only disruption verging on disaster.

Twenty-two minutes in and Michael Owen set off in pursuit of a Steve McManaman through ball. The youngster had travelled only 15 yards when he crumpled to the turf clutching his right hamstring.

Although Owen was able to make the journey from pitch to dressingroom on foot rather than by stretcher, his sense of discomfort was obvious and no doubt shared by England's interim coach Kevin Keegan.

But Owen's replacement on the night, Karlheinz Riedle, is a good man to have in reserve and he went close to ending what was becoming a tedious stalemate after 35 minutes when he rose smartly to reach a Jamie Redknapp corner.

Leeds's lack of width, particularly down the right, conspired to deny them any serious chances, although the mere presence of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was often sufficient to cause untold panic at the heart of Liverpool's makeshift defence.

Hasselbaink should actually have scored as the first half dragged towards its conclusion, but having reached Harry Kewell's intelligent cross from the left he under-hit his shot at the far post, so allowing Dominic Matteo to clear off the line.

Having lost their impressive initial impetus, the air of invincibility which has enveloped Leeds these past few weeks began to dissipate, and Liverpool began to call the shots.

Chances for either side were still infrequent, but there was a pleasing variety to much of Liverpool's football, particularly in midfield.

Fowler should, perhaps, have given the Merseysiders the lead just before the hour, but after racing clear through the centre to collect a Riedle flick-on, he could do no more than steer his shot into the body of Nigel Martyn.

With the promising Alan Smith for once unable to find any room in which to flourish, Hasselbaink took it upon himself to try and fashion a breakthrough. If his willingness to chase lost causes was to be warmly applauded, the refusal to pass to more advantageously placed colleagues verged on the unforgivable.

LEEDS UNITED: Martyn, Halle (Jones 21), Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Hopkin, Batty, Bowyer, Smith, Hasselbaink, Kewell (Ribeiro 89). Subs not used: Wetherall, Wijnhard, Robinson. Booked: Hopkin, Batty.

LIVERPOOL: James, Gerrard, Babb, Carragher, Matteo, McManaman, Ince, Redknapp, Berger, Owen (Riedle 25), Fowler. Subs not used: Ferri, Bjornebye, Thompson, Friedel. Booked: Berger. Att: 39,451.

Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).