Liverpool edged a step closer to the semi-finals of the Champions League by defeating Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield.

Central defender Sami Hyypia scored the only goal of a tense, tight quarter-final first leg following excellent work by Michael Owen.

The visitors controlled possession for much of the game and were the better side in the second half, but could not find a way through Liverpool's solid rearguard.

The counter-attacking Reds are often more impressive on the road than at home and will relish the opportunity to defend their slender lead in Germany.

Liverpool were reluctant to commit numbers forward in the first half and rarely threatened.

Leverkusen, who were without influential defender Jens Nowotny through suspension, were impressively comfortable on the ball.

And in Brazilian winger Ze Roberto and German international Michael Ballack, they had two of the best players on show.

He found himself unmarked at the far post when Steven Gerrard whipped in an excellent cross from the right, but headed high over the crossbar.

The miss did not prove too costly, as Liverpool took the lead just minutes later.

John Arne Riise's right-wing corner found Owen and the England striker squared across the face of goal for Hyypia to side-foot home.

The second half was altogether more exciting and urgent than the first.

Yet the German side started to gain control as the half wore on.

The excellent Ballack had their best chance after 67 minutes. Ze Roberto picked his midfield partner out from the right, but Ballack struck wide from 12 yards.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy, Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer, Owen, Heskey. Subs: Arphexad, Berger, Barmby, McAllister, Biscan, Wright, Litmanen.

Bayer Leverkusen: Butt, Sebescen, Lucio, Ramelow, Placente, Schneider, Ballack, Basturk, Ze Roberto, Neuville, Berbatov. Subs: Juric, Babic, Zivkovic, Kirsten, Dzaka, Burkhardt, Kleine.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).