Liverpool eased the pressure on their French manager Gerard Houllier with a 2-1 English Premiership victory over Leeds United at Elland Roadlast night courtesy of an own goal from home skipper Lucas Radebe.
Houllier's side had been under the spotlight since before the start of the season after he allowed England players Paul Ince and Steve McManaman to depart to Middlesbrough and Real Madrid, respectively, and replaced them with foreign signings.
Two 1-0 defeats, by Watford last week and Middlesbrough on Saturday, left his side struggling in 17th place but they thoroughly deserved the three points at Elland Road at the expense of a young Leeds side who were outfought and outthought. The win moved Liverpool to ninth in the table.
If Houllier's men were nervous beforehand, they showed little sign of it from the kick-off and created a string of early good chances.
However, against the run of play, Leeds went ahead after 20 minutes. A driven corner from Harry Kewell on the right should have been headed in by the unmarked Michael Bridges but the new signing from Sunderland missed it completely.
Instead it cannoned into the net off Rigobert Song's left ankle under pressure from Darren Huckerby, who is still chasing his first goal for Leeds after moving from Coventry City this season.
With seconds of the first half remaining, Liverpool were rewarded for their endeavour with a well-worked equaliser. A quick free-kick midway into the Leeds half found Berger unmarked.
He exchanged passes with Camara before the ball rebounded from a tackle by Radebe back to the Ghanaian, who curled it perfectly into the top corner with the inside of his right foot.
Liverpool continued where they left off after the break and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 55 minutes with the second own goal of the night.
Another quickly-taken free-kick caught Leeds napping again and Berger swung in a lethal, swinging centre which Radebe deflected past Nigel Martyn as he tried to fend off Fowler.
The home side never threatened to deprive Liverpool of the points as the visitors' confidence rose visibly throughout the 90 minutes.
Leeds United: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Hopkin (Bakke 68), Batty, Bowyer, Kewell, Bridges (Smith 57), Huckerby. Subs Not Used: Kelly, Duberry, Robinson. Booked: Bowyer, Mills. Goals: Song 20 og.
Liverpool: Westerveld, Song, Carragher, Hyypia, Matteo, Thompson, Gerrard, Redknapp, Berger, Camara, Fowler. Subs Not Used: Staunton, Meijer, Murphy, Traore, Friedel. Booked: Song, Camara. Goals: Camara 45, Radebe 55 og.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
