If the sole legacy of this season's FA Cup is the re-establishment of Robbie Fowler as one of the Premiership's outstanding forwards and the resumption of his England career, then the old competition will still have done its bit for club and country.
The late goals which reduced Leeds's ambitions this season to long odds in both the Champions League and the Premiership were scored by others - Nick Barmby in the 88th minute and Emile Heskey in stoppage time. Yet it was Fowler who made important contributions to both, having borne the responsibility for Liverpool as an attacking force until the final 20 minutes.
Fowler still has to regain his sharpness near goal but as Gerard Houllier observed : "In terms of winning the ball, holding the ball and linking he has been much better over the last two games and it looks as if he is going to reach a very good level. If he does the right things we will have a player.
"I've always said that we want four quality strikers at Liverpool. I don't want Robbie Fowler to leave the club, nobody else wants him to leave the club and he himself doesn't want to leave the club."
The team in which Fowler found himself at the start could have been designed to prove a point on behalf of both player and manager. With Jari Litmanen rested, Houllier asked the striker to take on Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate while getting scant support from Vladimir Smicer.
Houllier hoped that his front pair would get support from midfield but until the second half Gary McAllister, Dietmar Hamann, Igor Biscan and Danny Murphy were pressed back by Eirik Bakke, Lee Bowyer and Dominic Matteo.
During this period Fowler's ability to come deep for the ball gain possession and keep it, relieved some of the pressure. Not until Barmby appeared after 68 minutes, to be followed by Heskey after 73, did he enjoy the support which was to win Liverpool the game.
A match littered with poor passing was won by the side possessing the greater assurance in taking chances. And Matteo's failure to find the target with a free header after 64 minutes proved to be Leeds's last chance.
With four minutes remaining Barmby put Liverpool ahead after a shot from Fowler had ricocheted to him off a post, and in stoppage time Ian Harte could only head Fowler's cross to Barmby, who this time laid the ball back for Heskey to score.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Bowyer, Bakke, Batty, Matteo, Keane (Smith 73), Viduka. Subs Not Used: Dacourt, Robinson, Wilcox, Mills. Booked: Harte.
Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel (Barmby 68), Hyypia, Carragher, Henchoz, Murphy (Ziege 76), Hamann, McAllister, Biscan, Fowler, Smicer (Heskey 73). Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Litmanen. Booked: McAllister, Smicer, Biscan, Ziege. Goals: Barmby 88, Heskey 90.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
