Leeds United's defeat by a supremely motivated Liverpool may come to represent their season's defining moment, and as David O'Leary is often moved to blame the media for any setback - however minor - the room was almost sucked dry of air by sharp intakes as it was suggested the Yorkshire bolt may now have been truly shot.

"For me, Manchester United are the best team in the world - simple as that," said O'Leary. "We have done well this season, but we are having a few little dips at the moment." True, he did go on to insist that no one should prematurely dismiss his side's chances of winning the Premiership title, but by simply stating the blindingly obvious he did himself untold credit.

As did Gerard Houllier when asked if he felt United would now "race away with it", he replied: "Yes, I do." It is becoming increasingly difficult to argue with this logic.

The flowing football which has carried Leeds so far since O'Leary's installation has, for the moment has been replaced by a less appealing, prodigious workrate that illustrates their sense of desperation.

Even so, after Lee Bowyer had cancelled out Dietmar Hamann's superb, if deflected, early freekick by arriving unannounced at the far post to head in a Jason Wilcox cross, it seemed highly probable that Leeds would build upon the insecure foundations of a wretched first-half showing.

They might have done had O'Leary not delayed for so long the introduction of the substitutes Michael Bridges and Darren Huckerby.

O'Leary's reluctance to withdraw the impotent Alan Smith and instigate earlier a reshuffle which was to see Harry Kewell returned to the left flank cost Leeds the game. When Patrik Berger had arrowed home a drive of enormous power, the die was cast.

Briefly, Bridges and Huckerby threatened to induce some panic in Liverpool's defence but the prospect of a recovery was to snap in the final minute when Danny Murphy scored with a blistering drive from distance.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Matteo, Smicer, Hamann, Gerrard, Berger, Meijer, Camara (Murphy 71). Subs Not Used: Newby, Heggem, Nielsen, Staunton. Booked: Hamann, Gerrard. Goals: Hamann 19, Berger 69, Murphy 90.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Harte, Bakke, McPhail (Huckerby 75), Bowyer, Wilcox, Smith (Bridges 75), Kewell. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Mills, Jones. Booked: Harte, Duberry, Smith. Goals: Bowyer 62.

Referee: M Reed (Birmingham).