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Robbie Fowler did not quite get the farewell Anfield game he wanted but relegated Charlton certainly headed into the Championship with some pride after getting a 2-2 draw.

They led twice at Anfield through Matt Holland and Darren Bent, and only a goal from Xabi Alonso and a late penalty from Kewell denied them an unexpected chance of victory.

For Fowler, taken off two minutes from time to allow him to have a standing ovation, the chance of that penalty - which he would have taken - fell to Kewell a minute later.

But Fowler still got all the praise he deserved after a goal-studded career, but Liverpool clearly had Athens and the Champions League final on their minds.

They got their own standing ovation from their lap of honour, boss Rafael Benitez's name ringing from the Kop.

But it was Fowler's day and he came back out after the parade for a solo ovation.

Fowler was named captain for his last Liverpool appearance at Anfield before his contract runs out in the summer, while on-loan Italian 'keeper Daniele Padelli made his debut, with both Jose Reina and Jerzy Dudek injured.

Kewell was on the bench while Bolo Zenden was given another chance in midfield to make his claim for a place in the Champions League Final on May 23.

Charlton defender Ben Thatcher returned following a ban, but Talal El Karkouri missed the South Londoners' last game before relegation with a foot problem.

Centre-half Madjid Bougherra made his full debut for the Addicks, and with on-loan Scott Carson unable to play against his parent club, Darren Randolph made his debut in goal.

The match was preceded by a noisy protest outside the main stand by Liverpool fans over the club's ticket allocation and distribution system for the European final. And there were banners on the Kop making the same point.

But the chanting to honour Fowler soon took over, only to be silenced when Charlton took a shock lead.

Zheng Zhi got the ball in from the right, and Matt Holland saw a stabbed shot clip Javier Mascherano, with Padelli beaten by the six-yard effort.

Alvaro Arbeloa should have equalised on seven minutes when Bougherra slipped trying to control a Jamie Carragher through ball. The Spanish defender ran on unopposed into the box, but put his shot wide from 12 yards.

Liverpool were dreadful, and Charlton got into a dangerous position again on 15 minutes, Darren Bent setting up Darren Ambrose, but the midfielder sliced wide.

It got worse for Arbeloa when he scooped another chance over the bar after Fowler had dummied a Zenden cross from the left.

Fowler scooped the ball over on the turn after 20 minutes, and Steven Gerrard saw a dipping effort following a Zenden free-kick also just clear the bar.

Liverpool's sloppy defending continued and Bent again got himself in a good position on the right, before squaring the ball across goal and away from the advancing Padelli. But Alex Song managed to send in a weak shot from eight yards that Steve Finnan deflected wide.

Gerrard, at least, was trying to take this game seriously and he ran strongly from half-way before presenting Dirk Kuyt with a chance from 18 yards, Randolph saving to his right.

There were more ovations for departees at the break, Dudek and youth team boss Steve Heighway, while Liverpool's FA Youth Cup winners paraded their trophy.

But it was Charlton a minute after the break who should have scored again, Zheng Zhi clean through but shooting hopelessly wide.

Charlton sent on Bryan Hughes for Ambrose after 51 minutes, and playing with a freedom not seen during their desperate battle for survival.

Six minutes later Kewell got into the fray, a direct replacement for Zenden, the battle between the pair to play in Athens clearly on.

Zheng Zhi then proceeded to miss with a six-yard header from Luke Young's cross. Liverpool then sent on Xabi Alonso for Arbeloa.

And Liverpool's two substitutes were involved in the 62 minute equaliser. Kewell crossed from the left, Kuyt headed down and Alonso lazily drove the ball home from 10 yards.

But Liverpool were soon behind again, this time when Thatcher's effort was half-stopped by Padelli, Bent crashed the ball home.

Randolph saved well from Kewell, Liverpool at last finding some urgency. Mascherano shot just over ahead of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's 81st-minute arrival for Charlton as a substitute for Lloyd Sam.

Fowler, twice, almost scored. Once he was stopped in his tracks by Bougherra when clear, and then he hooked over a Kewell cross.

With two minutes left, Fowler was given the chance to take a standing ovation when he was replaced by Peter Crouch. Anfield rose to their hero, Benitez likewise.

Sixty seconds later Bougherra handled in the box, but with Fowler now departed and losing the chance of a fairy-tale ending to his Anfield career, it fell to Kewell to fire the penalty home off a post.

Rafael Benitez admitted he was a minute too early taking Robbie Fowler off to give him the chance of a standing ovation from his adoring Anfield fans.

The Liverpool chief opted to withdraw Fowler with two minutes left, and 60 seconds later the Merseysiders were awarded a penalty.

The Kop erupted into "we want Fowler" but by then it was too late for the skipper-for-the-day to step up and sign off his Anfield career with a spot-kick in front of the fans who idolise him.

Charlton had led twice, through Matt Holland and Darren Bent, but Xabi Alonso and then Harry Kewell - with that penalty - gave Liverpool the point they needed to clinch third spot.

Fowler was playing his last game in a red shirt at Anfield before his contract expires, and Benitez said: "I was just too quick. If I had waited a minute more, Robbie could have scored from the spot in front of the Kop, that would have been a perfect way to end for him.

"I had wanted to give him the chance of a personal ovation, but it was just one of those things in the end. It was just bad luck for him, but at least I made sure he got the ovation he deserved."

Benitez added: "It was not a good game. We made too many mistakes and it was not easy with the Champions League final at the end of the month. They had other things on their mind."

Charlton boss Alan Pardew had seen his side bid farewell to the Premier League with a display that will give him confidence for next season.

He said: "Liverpool have a habit of scoring late goals against me, it happened in last season's FA Cup final against West Ham."

That final was exactly a year ago to the day, and Pardew still had kind words for his former club.

He said: "I am delighted West Ham stayed up. They have got back their fighting spirit in these last few weeks and their form.

"I am pleased for them and for a lot of good people at Upton Park that they stayed up."

As for Charlton, Pardew said: "I had tried to make sure we were positive all week after our relegation was confirmed. I wanted us to play with a smile and take Liverpool on.

"Liverpool were not too focused, they had other things on their minds, but I was delighted with my side. We will be a big scalp next season, but I believe we can come straight back.

"I have to talk to a few players who are out of contract next week, and obviously things will happen.

"But I felt that this display was a statement for next season, we played well and it was almost a perfect way to go, apart from the result."