Owen underlines Champions League importance

Last updated : 11 March 2003 By Chris Maxwell
The 23-year-old striker believes that the Liverpool players need to be competing regularly against the elite teams of European football if they are to continue to improve.

Owen said: "We are preparing for next season and there's a big financial gain for the club if we get back in the Champions League, and it will be important to the players because we will be playing the best players in the world.

"The incentive for the Champions League is still there and it was important that we showed it. Come pre-season training in the summer, to know we are in the Champions League will be very important to us."