Victory saw Liverpool go fourth - the last spot available to English clubs for next season's premier European club competition, a point clear of Newcastle and two ahead of Birmingham.

As well as Owen's double, Liverpool also netted late on through his fellow England striker Emile Heskey and an Andy Todd own-goal.

"It was a strong, powerful, determined performance. We have performed very well at times and not got the result but today we have got both the performance and the result," said Liverpool's French manager Gerard Houllier.

Defeat took Blackburn to the edge of the relegation zone and their manager Graeme Souness, the former Liverpool captain, said: "Long before today we realised how dangerous our position is.

"We have seven games to go and we need to win three of them and there is no hiding from that fact."

Also on Sunday, Aston Villa were left two points behind city rivals Birmingham following a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Manchester City.

On Saturday, high-flyers Chelsea assured themselves of a place in next season's Champions League with a 1-0 win over London rivals Tottenham thanks to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first-half goal.

The result saw Chelsea close to within four points of leaders Arsenal. The two London clubs meet again on Tuesday at Arsenal's Highbury ground for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final which currently stands at 1-1.

Newcastle ensured they stayed in touch with a 4-2 win over Everton that left them breathing down Liverpool's neck after two goals from Alan Shearer and one each from Craig Bellamy and Kieron Dyer put paid to Everton.

Elsewhere, Southampton's 4-1 win at Molineux kept Wolves in last place, Birmingham's goalless draw away to Fulham kept them in the Champions League hunt while Middlesbrough beat Bolton 2-0.