Owen desperate for title glory

The 23-year-old England international has won six winners medals at the club and was crowned the European Player of the Year in 2001, but he knows only too well that time is running out on his hopes of holding aloft the Premiership title at Anfield.

Owen said: "There is an extra significance to this season. We want to reach the top and win the league.

"You don't get a million and one chances as a manager or a player to do that and we need to do it quite soon. Everyone wants this season to be THE season. Players only have a short shelf life.

"I have been playing for six to seven years now and am probably halfway through my career without winning the league.

"You think it is going to be next year or maybe the one after that and, suddenly, the time has gone."