Owen looks to end Liverpool jinx

Michael Owen made his name at English Premier League giants Liverpool but since he left he has never managed to score against them and he is aiming to set that right when his present team Stoke host them on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old former England striking great - who moved on to Real Madrid and then back to England with spells for Newcastle and Manchester United before signing for Stoke - looks set to play after recovering from a hamstring injury which has kept him out of action since the end of October.

"It is a strange feeling really playing against your old club, especially one where you were there for around 15 years," he told Independent Sports News.

"Liverpool are a big part of my life and career and I had some of the best times of my life at the club.

"So certainly I have happy memories. I have not been so happy playing against them since; I have never scored and not particularly enjoyed it."

Owen, scorer of 40 goals in his 89 appearances for England, believes that aside from perhaps ending his goal drought against them Stoke can extend their eight match unbeaten run which sees them just one place behind eighth placed Liverpool.

"I don't see any reason why not," said Owen, whose side only trail Liverpool because of a poorer goals difference.

"We had a really tough start to the season and we picked up points against some of the big teams.

"Then we went into a period of games where you would look at them on paper and say we had a chance of picking up points, and we have duly done that.

"We are on a nice run of form. Every game is tough in the Premier League, but there is no reason why we can't continue it."

AFP