All is finally well in the Anfield world, with Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler on the score-sheet together for the first time this season.

The pair have had a multitude of injuries since the summer, and Liverpool's best strike pairing - maybe even England's - have suffered months of frustration.

But Owen, a few weeks further into his comeback than Fowler, broke the deadlock against a belligerent, determined Wimbledon, and then substitute Fowler snapped up his third of the season to finally kill off the south Londoners.

It was Fowler's 150th goal in his Liverpool career, and as the Mersey-siders cruise into the next century in buoyant mood, they must be the team coming from the pack that all the top dogs fear now.

The victory firmly established Liverpool as genuine title contenders as they stretched their current run to just one defeat in 12 league games.

Anfield chief Gerard Houllier was forced to field five youngsters, including a central midfield pairing of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher following the late withdrawal of German midfielder Dietmar Hamann with flu.

Against an organised, physical and efficient team like Wimbledon, that was a gamble but Liverpool's young stars more than handled it, even if the game was continually slowed down because of the style of deep defence adopted by the Dons.

Chances though were few, with Wimbledon managing just one first-half shot, a lob from Israeli Walid Badir that cleared Sander Westerveld's bar. Apart from that, it was a case of Liverpool struggling to find space.

Liverpool needed to inject far more pace and passion into their second-half display - and Gerrard and Carragher became more forceful while Patrik Berger was at last prepared to take on defenders.

Berger's surge down the right before seeing a shot deflected over, paved the way for Liverpool's first goal after 58 minutes.

Danny Murphy curled the corner into the six-yard box, and there was Owen to poach a goal from a yard out, slamming his shot into the roof of the net.

A minute later Fowler came on for Murphy to join Liverpool's assault. But Wimbledon drew level after 64 minutes when Kenny Cunningham's chip from the right found Marcus Gayle unmarked beyond the far post and the towering striker headed over Westerveld.

In the 67 minute, with Vladimir Smicer on for Owen, Liverpool were ahead again. Following a free-kick on the edge of the box for handball against Hermann Hreidarsson, Berger stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and past Sullivan.

With 11 minutes left Stephane Henchoz's long ball out of defence was helped on by Smicer and Fowler nipped in to head cleverly over the advancing Sullivan.

It was the perfect end for Fowler, and Liverpool, after a troubled year.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Matteo, Henchoz, Hyypia, Heggem, Berger, Carragher, Murphy (Fowler 59), Gerrard, Owen (Smicer 65), Camara (Song 90). Subs not used: Staunton, Nielsen. Goals: Owen 58, Berger 68, Fowler 80.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble (Cort 33), Thatcher, Badir (Francis 76), Earle, Leaburn (Andresen 65), Andersen, Hreidarsson, Euell, Gayle. Subs not used: Heald, Willmott. Booked: Euell. Goal: Gayle 64.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).