YOUNG pretender Robbie Fowler will tomorrow take a welcome break from the battle to topple Alan Shearer as the king of the Premiership goalscorers.

The Ewood and England striker looked bang on course for a solo march to another "Golden Boot".

Suddenly, however, two's a crowd as Anfield ace Robbie Fowler sits on Shearer's shoulder - just one League goal behind the man he readily acknowledges as the master.

But Fowler's immediate concern is to book a place in the FA Cup semi-finals when they entertain Leeds tomorrow. Shearer equalled the Premiership record of 34 in the championship season.

He has 25 Premiership strikes to his credit so far and, with nine games still to go, could yet set a new all-time high - and he might well have to do that if he is to keep the almost equally-prolific Fowler at bay.

The Liverpool man was Shearer's closest challenger last season.

"I'm a big Shearer fan," admitted Fowler. "He's got everything a striker needs.

"He can score with his head, with both feet and even with his backside if necessary.

"Shearer is a first-class forward. He's the best in English football." "There's no false modesty here on my part, because a lot of people think the same.

"Like myself, he's young enough to get better and I would love to play alongside him for England one day, because I think we could hit it off."

Defensive duo Tony Dorigo and Gary Kelly face fitness tests for Leeds while Gary Speed is set for an unexpected return.

Central defender John Pemberton, fit again after a three month lay-off, is unlikely to be risked as Leeds attempt to go a step nearer their second Wembley final of the season.

Liverpool's main worry concerns a groin injury affecting defender Mark Wright, who lifted the trophy for the club in 1992 when Sunderland were defeated 2-0. He will have another workout today.

Tickets for the home game against Everton on Saturday, March 30, will go on sale on Monday, March 11 for holders of stubs from either home games against Liverpool or Bolton (maximum four tickets per stub), and for season ticket holders needing extra tickets (maximum four tickets per each book produced).

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