Owen helps himself to first-half hat-trick

And now you better believe it. Michael Owen is back, or should that be back, back, back. Four days after the boy wonder of English football announced his return to international form with a crisply taken equaliser against the world champions in Paris, Owen confirmed the restoration of his mental and physical well-being with a 26-minute first-half hat-trick against hapless Aston Villa last night.

Owen did so in front of Germany's caretaker manager Rudi Voller, who presumably had come to observe Dietmar Hamann and Markus Babbel, but who must have departed Anfield hoping that Kevin Keegan's less than wholehearted opinion of Owen has not changed by the time Germany visit Wembley on October 7th.

If Keegan does become an Owen evangelist, then Voller will be a worried man these next four weeks. Voller will know, however, that his defenders are unlikely to be as charitable as Aston Villa's. Owen had to work for just one of his goals here, the opener. The others were gifts.

Such donations could make it a long, difficult season for John Gregory's men, though here they had the consolation of scoring the goal of the game, Steve Stone finishing an intricate move involving Lee Hendrie, Dion Dublin and Luc Nilis. A pity it was in the 83rd minute.

Liverpool, who lost a three-goal lead at Southampton in their last match, held on. They might not have done so had Villa scored earlier, for there is still something shaky about the defence that was the most miserly in the Premiership last season.

Liverpool had to regain some of that meanness after The Dell - "defensive confidence" Gerard Houllier said - yet the generosity of spirit that has long characterised the people of this city was again evident here early on, David James on his first return as a Villa player, receiving the kind of reception once accorded Ray Clemence when he came back with Spurs. The evening had its theme.

Rather unexpectedly it was one picked up by Gareth Southgate in the sixth minute. There was so little danger facing Southgate when he took possession that he had time to look up and select his target. This he did with his usual calm. Only it was Emile Heskey.

Even Heskey knows he plays for Liverpool. He immediately ran around the static Alpay, powered away from the recovering midfielder George Boateng and from inside-right, Heskey drilled in a low cross that Owen met first time on the run. Owen nipped in front of his marker the way he got in front of Frank Leboeuf in Paris.

Southgate bowed his head - understandable as, but for his error, the visitors could have mounted a real threat. Paul Merson and Nilis were as skilful and energetic as anyone and the slickness of their combination fashioned a decent opening for Dublin five minutes after Owen's first.

Later in the first half Dublin was to put a free header from a Merson centre inches over and as the half closed, Dublin appeared to be unfairly held by Sami Hyypia in the Liverpool area. Dublin was so incensed he removed his shirt and offered it to the Liverpool captain. Referee Neale Barry said no penalty.

By then Villa were three down having contrived on two further occasions to give Owen goals. In the 14th minute, James returned some of the generosity shown to him by coming for, then retreating from a Vladimir Smicer corner. Owen, unmarked at the far post, nodded in.

Owen should then have had his third from another Heskey centre but with his next opportunity the hat-trick was secured. As with the first two Villa made it as straightforward as possible. Alpay directed a backward header to James but left it short. Owen was off. James was still favourite, yet allowed the ball to slip through his grasp. Owen slotted it into the empty net.

Only when David Ginola came off the bench in the 69th minute did Liverpool begin to quiver. But it was all too late. This was already Owen's night. "Never mind the goals," said Houllier, "Michael's getting stronger and he's improving some aspects of his general play."

Not the words Voller wanted to hear.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Traore, Gerrard, Hamann, Carragher, Smicer (Barmby 18), Owen, Heskey (Meijer 63). Subs not used: Song, Arphexad, Diomede. Booked: Gerrard. Goals: Owen 5, 14, 33.

Aston Villa: James, Southgate, Ehiogu, Alpay (Ginola 70), Stone, Boateng (Hendrie 64), Taylor, Barry, Merson, Dublin, Nilis. Subs not used: Vassell, Samuel, Enckelman. Booked: Southgate, Ehiogu, Taylor. Goal: Stone 83.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).