Michael Owen repaid the faith shown in him by manager Gerard Houllier as he grabbed two goals and set up another in a comfortable night's work for Liverpool against Portsmouth.
The Reds were in desperate need for three points as they looked to get their push for a UEFA Champions League spot back on course after defeat to Southampton on Sunday.
The first goal did not take long to come as Dietmar Hamann made it 1-0 after only six minutes with a stunning effort.
The visitors failed to clear a cross from the right and Owen reacted fastest to pick up the loose ball and chip a pass back to the German who volleyed into the top left corner from just outside the area.
A second came about on 28 when Owen was alert to the opportunity and chested a weak cross down to go past the Pompey rearguard. The England international kept his cool and slotted the ball past Shaka Hislop's right hand.
It was little more than Liverpool's dominance deserved and the margin of their lead could well have been wider at the break had it not been for the form of the Portsmouth keeper.
He made good saves from John Arne Riise and Harry Kewell and then denied Igor Biscan a rare goal with a spectacular parry from a close range header.
Harry Redknapp was clearly not impressed by his players' efforts in the opening half as he made a double substitution during the interval.
The harsh words seemed to have some effect as the away side came out much brighter after the break and were unlucky not to get back in the game when Dejan Stefanovic's free-kick rattled against the bar with Jerzy Dudek motionless.
Loumana Lua Lua then had a guilt-edged effort to open Portsmouth's account but the on-loan striker fluffed his shot from only six yards out.
Owen showed how it was to be done in front of goal as he headed home a Steven Gerrard corner to make it 3-0 and kill the game off as a contest.
Liverpool twice hit the post in the dying minutes as first Danny Murphy and then Emile Heskey were foiled by the woodwork.
The victory was sweet revenge for Houllier and his players after they were recently knocked-out of the FA Cup at Fratton Park.
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