THE RESULT THAT NEITHER TEAM wanted duly arrived at Elland Road yesterday. For a season wherein worst-case scenarios have blighted meaningful progress for Liverpool and Leeds United, it was only to be expected. They applied themselves energetically and gave it their best shot in what was an absorbing spectacle. However, in the cold light of day, the clinical eye may have discerned just how far these two clubs, former giants of English and European football, have fallen.

Leeds remain bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership despite the point, although Eddie Gray, their caretaker manager, accentuated the positives from a third successive match without defeat. As for Liverpool, at least they still have a realistic ambition of filling a Champions League berth. The feeling, though, that Gérard Houllier is merely minding the store until the summer stocktake was not diminished after a game that mirrored their frustrations in the league of late.

On the balance of chances alone, Liverpool should have won. Goals by Harry Kewell, incessantly taunted on his return to his old club, and Milan Baros, the first of an injury-ravaged season for the Czech Republic forward, had kept the scores level in an error-prone and thus goal-laden first half that saw Eirik Bakke and Mark Viduka seize the initiative for Leeds.

“I am disappointed because I thought we had enough chances to seal it,” Houllier said. “If Leeds are the bottom club in this league, then the Premiership is a very high level.”

A sluggish opening passage of play was swiftly forgotten when Kewell was presented with a shooting opportunity in the 21st minute after Baros had carried the ball square. He shaped to chance his luck himself before finding the Australia winger, who took one touch before delivering a delicious left-foot curler reminiscent of his goal against Levski Sofia on Thursday night.

The jeers gave way to cheers from his own supporters, although the visiting feel-good factor was a fleeting experience. Just when it appeared that the supporters had cause for optimism, they had it snatched away. In the 29th minute, Alan Smith, who along with Viduka ran Liverpool’s back four a merry dance, flicked a header into space where Kewell and Jamie Carragher should have been. Jermaine Pennant took his time and released Bakke, who bundled the ball beyond Chris Kirkland. Smith was again pivotal in the second goal five minutes later, passing through the hole that was supposed to be Liverpool’s central defensive kernel for Viduka to lob his seventh goal of the season.

If Houllier has one reliable man in his camp it is Steven Gerrard. The England midfield player is establishing a reputation perhaps beyond even his expectations and another performance coursing with graft and craft served to enhance his standing. Baros should have restored Liverpool’s lead before Viduka pounced. His close-range header from Gerrard’s cross hit the bar and Michael Owen was similarly profligate with a second- half header from Kewell’s centre.

Paul Robinson, the Leeds goalkeeper, pushed that effort aside, but Baros redeemed himself three minutes before the interval, turning past two defenders with grit and guile before his crisp right-foot effort flashed into the net. Robinson denied Dietmar Hamann’s rising shot from 25 yards late on, yet it was Leeds who twice came closest to prevailing. Smith’s header from a James Milner cross rebounded down off the bar to safety and another header, this time from Didier Domi in stoppage time, was cleared off the line by Carragher.

Victory for Leeds would have lifted them out of the relegation zone and no doubt encouraged potential buyers that there is something worth investing in after all. Only one consortium retains an interest in taking over the club’s debts, estimated at close to £100 million. More likely is that the saviours — or the vultures, depending on your point of view — will be hovering until May when the club’s status will be decided finally.

“We have players capable of keeping us up,” Gray said. “If we can stay in the Premiership, it will go a long way to helping this football club.”

• A minute’s silence was observed before kick-off for John Charles, whose funeral is being held in Leeds today. The club has re-named its West Stand after the former Leeds, Juventus and Wales centre forward in tribute.

  Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 7 — G Kelly 6, S Caldwell 5, D Matteo 5, D Domi 7 — J Pennant 7, E Bakke 6 (sub: S McPhail, 46min 6), Seth Johnson 6, J Milner 5 — M Viduka 7, A Smith 7 (sub: Simon Johnson, 82). Substitutes not used: S Carson, I Harte, L Radebe. NEXT: Fulham (a). FORM: DDWLLL

  Liverpool (4-4-2): C Kirkland 4 — S Finnan 3, S Henchoz 3, S Hyypia 6, J Carragher 4 — D Murphy 5, S Gerrard 8, D Hamann 7, H Kewell 7 — M Owen 5, M Baros 6 (sub: E Heskey, 80). Substitutes not used: J Dudek, E-H Diouf, I Biscan, B Cheyrou. Booked: Henchoz. NEXT: Southampton (a). FORM: DWDDDL

  Shots on target: (h) 6 (a) 13. Fouls: (h) 13 (a) 11. Offsides: (h) 6 (a) 7

  Referee: P Durkin 4. Attendance: 39,932

  RACE TO GO FOURTH

  LIVERPOOL

  March 14: Southampton (away, 4.05). March 20: Wolverhampton Wanderers (home, 3.0). March 27: Leicester City (away, 3.0). April 4: Blackburn Rovers (home, 3.0). April 10: Arsenal (away, 3.0). April 12: Charlton Athletic (home, 3.0). April 17: Fulham (home, 3.0). April 24: Manchester United (away, 3.0). May 1: Middlesbrough (home, 3.0). May 8: Birmingham City (away, 3.0). May 15: Newcastle United (home, 3.0).

  NEWCASTLE UNITED

  March 13: Tottenham Hotspur (away, 3.0). March 20: Charlton Athletic (home, 3.0). March 27: Bolton Wanderers (away, 3.0). April 4: Everton (home, 3.0). April 10: Southampton (away, 3.0). April 12: Arsenal (home, 3.0). April 17: Aston Villa (away, 3.0). April 24: Newcastle (home, 3.0). May 1: Manchester City (away, 3.0). May 8: Wolves (home, 3.0). May 15: Liverpool (away, 3.0).