THE festive spirit was not much in evidence yesterday as Michael Owen was jeered on his return to Liverpool, to the disgust of Steven Gerrard, who admitted that he had overstepped the mark during a fracas that may warrant further scrutiny when the Football Association’s disciplinary department returns to work after the Christmas break.

The Liverpool captain was involved in an angry exchange with Alan Shearer and several other players as tempers flared at Anfield after an ugly tackle for which Lee Bowyer was sent off. Peter Crouch, the Liverpool forward, was also involved, pushing Bowyer to the ground after the Newcastle United midfield player’s challenge on Xabi Alonso, prompting Graeme Souness, the Newcastle manager, to say that Bowyer “should not have been the only one to get sent off”.

Gerrard described the incident as “handbags”, but admitted that he acted inappropriately in the heat of the moment. “I think it was a bit of a dangerous tackle [by Bowyer] but I might have acted a bit out of order and gone after him [Shearer],” he said.

Gerrard seemed more concerned by the reception given to Owen, though a 2-0 win, Liverpool’s eighth in succession in the Barclays Premiership, will have raised his spirits. “He got a bit of a mixed reception, which was very disappointing,” he said. “I don’t think the fans were booing him, but he deserved a standing ovation for the goals that he scored while he was here.”

Liverpool’s consistency makes them Chelsea’s most realistic challengers, but Manchester United remain in second place after a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion and Sir Alex Ferguson refuses to accept that the title is beyond them. “All we can do really is keep winning and hopefully something happens up there with Chelsea,” he said. “You just have to keep going.”

Fulham did their best to help out the chasing pack, coming from 2-0 down to 2-2 before losing to a superb goal from Hernán Crespo for the champions at Stamford Bridge and they could have had a late penalty after John Terry blocked a shot from Luis Boa Morte. “Terry did a block with his hand, but I don’t know whether it was inside or outside (the area),” José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, said. “There could have been three penalties, but I thought Graham Poll contributed to a very good game.”

Referees were less popular elsewhere, with Steve Bruce criticising Phil Dowd after a 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur that left his Birmingham City side in the bottom three, Muzzy Izzet having been sent off and Spurs taking the lead with a dubious penalty.

“I can’t say too much because you know what happens,” Bruce said. “I’d love to sit here and tell you the way I have seen it, but I can’t. I have not had many bonuses lately and I don’t want to be paying any fines.”

Alan Curbishley blamed Steve Bennett for Charlton Athletic’s 1-0 defeat at home by Arsenal, which ended a run of three successive league defeats for Arsène Wenger’s team. “He is a local ref and perhaps it is something we have to look at,” Curbishley said. “Perhaps when they come into games refereeing their local teams it is a bit difficult for them.”