Michael Owen says he is not expecting a warm reception when Manchester United make the short trip to Anfield in only a few days time. Owen of course made his name at Liverpool but will probably be verbally abused every time he touches the ball for joining United.

The rivalry between United and Liverpool is probably the most intense in English football. The two clubs really do hate each other and United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, has often commented on how hostile the reaction is whenever he takes his club to go and play in Liverpool.

There will be some fans that will applaud Michael Owen and remember all of the good things that he did during his time at the club. However, there are some fans who will be too ignorant to bear this in mind and all they will see is the Manchester United badge on the shirt and the number 7 on his back.

Owen said: “I’d prefer people to sit down and recognise you for what you did for them and for the team in years gone by. But I’m pretty realistic as well and now that I’m playing for their arch rivals, I’m not holding my breath, put it that way. People talk about loyalty and for a football supporter that’s easy to preach about.”

“I’ve got to earn a living, provide for my family. I supported Everton as a kid, I never supported Real Madrid, but I played for them. It’s a job opportunity, like anyone else’s work. The longer you’re at a team, if the fans welcome you and the players take to you then you build an affinity. So now I look for Real Madrid results and Newcastle results, but it doesn’t make me any less loyal to Manchester United.”

A lot of people questioned whether Ferguson had lost the plot when he signed Owen from a depleted Newcastle United, but the point is that he seems to have found a new lease of life.

Fergie knows better than anyone else in the Premier League, the right way that Owen needs to be used and has to be used if he wants to extend and finish his career in the red of United. He probably thought he had struck gold when he knew that the Champions were interested, especially when you consider that the only other clubs that were in for him were Stoke and Hull City.

Owen may not start the game next Sunday but if he comes off the bench and scores in the same way he did during the Manchester derby, then he could finish his career the next day and United fans would already be calling him a legend.

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