Owen ruled out for England

The 23-year-old goal-getter has struggled for fitness since damaging ankle ligaments in the Reds defeat to Arsenal last month and he will again miss out for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side next Sunday.

"He won't be ready for the national game next week. He's still feeling his ankle a little bit," said Gerard Houllier.

"I hope to have him back for the Middlesbrough game, which is in a fortnight. If we had a game next week I would not be able to play him."