Leicester -1 Liverpool - 2 If the omens were promising for Liverpool before the weekend, they are glowing now. Where Gerard Houllier's side were once stodgy, now they flow with rare and syncopated rhythms. "We are playing with new-found confidence," said the Frenchman. That applies to some of his players more than others.

Michael Owen and Emile Heskey provided the goals to beat an awkward Leicester City on Saturday. Owen has been untouchable for a month, the first-half penalty slid into the corner swelling his club haul to five goals in three matches, but it is the change this match may prompt in Heskey that could determine the extent of Liverpool's revival.

The 25-year-old is under pressure. Milan Baros, his right ankle in plaster, was watching from the stands and Auxerre's Djibril Cisse will continue to scour the match reports with interest before his £11 million move to Merseyside next summer. Aware of those challenging his place, Heskey must justify his existence at Anfield in the next few months.

"The goal will help Emile," said Houllier, who could not suppress his delight on the touchline as Heskey's outstretched boot touched the excellent El Hadji Diouf's cross beyond Ian Walker.

"Normally when he starts scoring, he gets on a run. Hopefully now he'll do the same again. If Emile used his own assets and did what he's good at, he'd be even better.

"Maybe now he'll take advantage of Milan's misfortune. The work-rate will always be there, but I like Emile when he plays with freedom. Perhaps he tries to show too much finesse rather than using his assets, his strength and power. He doesn't need to prove his worth. Now it's about him expressing himself."

That, through his 186 appearances for Liverpool, has invariably been the forward's problem. Heskey should be a brute. Instead, he has too often proved brittle. He left with autograph hunters squealing his name as if they, too, realised the constant need to pep him up. Even Leicester manager Micky Adams, one of the beneficiaries of Heskey's £110,000 investment in the consortium that eased Leicester out of administration last season, offered nothing but praise.

"He put in a 90-minute performance in which he was as committed to the cause as he's ever been," said Adams.

Gerry Taggart endured a torrid afternoon and departed bruised by Heskey and dizzied by Owen's display. When Liverpool were at their most effective during the opening half-hour, with Steven Gerrard dictating play, Owen was irrepressible. It took an outstanding display from Walker to deny him from open play; Harry Kewell, Vladimir Smicer and Diouf, a busy trio providing width and whip to the home side's attack, were all similarly thwarted by the goalkeeper.

Not that Liverpool had this all their own way. Leicester almost claimed a point after Marcus Bent's late goal prompted a panicked finale. On this evidence, Adams's side will have too much discipline to cave in.