This game offered two similar plots with vastly different outcomes. Both featured an absentee manager, a troubled striker and the response of their fans. In Liverpool's case the story had a wondrously happy ending. Leicester's version had no redeeming features whatever. It is easy to understand why Leicester, and not Liverpool, are at the foot of the Premiership.

Liverpool supporters devotedly raised a banner to their manager and then lauded Robbie Fowler, the player who has caused Houllier most frustration, for a hat-trick that might put his season, perhaps even his career, back on track.

Houllier was moved out of intensive care hours before Saturday's game and when the news filtered through to him that Fowler, of all people, had triumphed at a time of adversity, it will have given him much to ponder upon.

Stories persisted yesterday that Fowler's availability has been circulated to Premiership clubs. But Fowler will be going nowhere while Houllier recuperates. And, who knows, by the time his recovery is complete, Liverpool's favourite scally might well have brought the breadth to his game that Houllier regards as essential.

If Liverpool's fans had only joy, Leicester's mood was sour. Peter Taylor might have departed but the dubious transfer buys that contributed to his sacking still remain. Trevor Benjamin, Lee Marshall and Ade Akinbiyi all had shockers - and it was Akinbiyi, spurning four yawning opportunities, who endured the crowd's spleen.

Liverpool, sensing Leicester's vulnerability, hit them twice from Gary McAllister set-plays within 10 minutes, Fowler preying on a loose ball after John Arne Riise's fierce volley had been pushed aside by Ian Walker, then Sami Hyypia glancing in at the near post. Liverpool then entered cruise control, accurately presuming that, whenever they required, Leicester's defence would go walkabout.

So it proved. Fowler punished Marshall's calamitous stumble, as he failed to control a high ball, to put them three up by half-time, and volleyed a fourth in injury-time from Vladimir Smicer's cross. Leicester's game midfield response, where Matthew Jones and Dennis Wise gnashed and gnarled, was rewarded by Wise's glancing header from Callum Davidson's cross just before the hour.

Thompson, with two wins as caretaker manager, said: "Robbie has been searching for goals but he has been working very hard and I'm thrilled for him. But he can still work on his touch and his back-up play."

LEICESTER: Walker, Marshall, Sinclair, Elliott, Davidson, Savage, Wise, Jones (Piper 72), Benjamin, Sturridge (Impey 56), Akinbiyi. Subs Not Used: Royce, Lewis, Heath. Booked: Sinclair. Goal: Wise 58.

LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Wright, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard (Berger 45), McAllister, Redknapp (Smicer 79), Murphy, Fowler, Heskey (Litmanen 83). Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Barmby. Booked: Redknapp, Heskey. Goals: Fowler 5, Hyypia 10, Fowler 43, 90.

Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).