Michael Owen To Liverpool FC: A Logical Option To Consider?

Michael Owen was considered a legend at Liverpool until he famously signed for Manchester United in 2009.

His spell at Liverpool was, without doubt, the most successful period of his career. He scored 118 goals in 216 appearances and his contribution to the treble of 2001 would not be forgotten by even his hardest critics, an year when he also won the Ballon d’Or.

Ever since he left Liverpool, he hasn't been able to reproduce the goal-scoring form that he had at Anfield. In his spells at Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United, he has been plagued by bad form and a number of injuries. 

Almost everyone would agree that no team should currently look at Owen as a player who could start 30+ games per season for them, as his fitness record hasn't been great. 

However, no one can doubt his talent and his goal-scoring prowess. If he stays fit, he can still be one of the top strikers in EPL, but at 31, that is too much to expect of the fragile Owen.

Hence, his switch from Newcastle to Manchester United may have been a very good decision by Owen and a masterstroke by Sir Alex.

He wanted to use Owen as an impact player. And Owen obliged, most famously in the Derby against Manchester City by netting the winner in the sixth minute of injury time. 

But due to the arrival of Hernandez and the promotion of Macheda through the ranks, he finds himself pushed down the pecking order and gets less playing time at United and would prefer a move away from Old Trafford.

And this is where Liverpool could come in. Liverpool are in dire need of an attacking backup to Fernando Torres.

Owen could find himself playing the perfect impact player role from the bench, a role for which Liverpool has to rely on players like Babel or N'gog currently. The club would definitely prefer a seasoned campaigner like Owen in such situations. 

With the current busy season with the League, Carling Cup, FA Cup and the European matches, it is impossible for a player to start all matches. Hence, he could act as the perfect foil when Fernando Torres isn't playing. 

Owen should not cost too much to the owners of the club as well. It may be against NESV's policy of recruiting young talent, but having a player like Owen on the rolls might not hurt them. 

A lot of clubs are rumored to be interested in Owen: West Ham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Everton being among them.

A move to Aston to get back together with Houllier, Newcastle or to the struggling West Ham might lead Owen facing the same problems as he has done in the past, with too many expectations, and his body falling to injuries under the burden of those expectations.

A move to Everton might become the final straw for even for the remaining supporters of Owen on the Red half of Merseyside.

A move to two greatest rivals, Manchester United and Everton, is something which even the most die-hard supporters would not be expected to ignore. 

Liverpool have not shown an interest in getting their famous son back to Anfield, but stranger things have happened in football.

Owen wearing the Liverpool jersey during Carragher's testimonial did bring back happy memories and the return of the prodigal son to Anfield is something I would not be disappointed to see.