Celtic 1 Liverpool 1
Liverpool held Celtic to a draw at Parkhead in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg tonight to gain the advantage in a tightly-contested all-British tie.
Liverpool, UEFA Cup winners two years ago, were hit by an early barrage and Henrik Larsson scored in the second minute.
But after Emile Heskey claimed an important away goal in the 17th minute, Liverpool had the best of the game.
John Hartson had already given Liverpool a scare by shooting against the bar after just 12 seconds but they fell behind a minute later when Larsson, playing for the first time after a month's absence with a broken jaw, bundled home from close range.
Liverpool equalised when a great run by John Arne Riise set up Heskey, another man returning from an injury absence, to score with a low left-foot drive.
The goal took the steam out of Celtic, who had already taken the scalp of Blackburn Rovers earlier in the competition.
Liverpool, with midfield duo Steven Gerrard and Danny Murphy working tirelessly, gradually took a hold of the match and Heskey and Michael Owen had further chances in the second half.