MANCHESTER United striker Michael Owen has tried to lessen the hostility surrounding his return to Anfield later this month by playing down his comm-ents about being at the biggest club in the world.

Earlier this week the former Liverpool player praised the input of manager Sir Alex Ferguson, adding life at Old Trafford was “everything you would expect of a top team, probably the biggest club in the world”.

The manner of Owen’s departure from Anfield to Real Madrid in 2004 is still a contentious one for fans, who have never forgiven the former star for threat-ening to run down the final year of his contract and leave for nothing.

Owen has since been back to Anfield with Newcastle after a one-year stay in Spain but the reaction to his visit with Liverpool’s arch-rivals on October 25 is likely to be the most vitriolic yet – especially after his recent comments. The 29-year-old explained: “I didn’t set out to offend anyone. What I said was, in terms of support, revenue and stadium, Man United are probably the biggest in the world but Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are up there with them in other areas.

“In saying that, I’m sure things I’ve said at different times over the last 20 years will be dredged up and turned into back-page stories over the next two weeks. I’ve been back before with Newcastle a couple of times, so I’ve played there for an opposing team, but I’m certainly looking forward to this game.

“It will be different, it’ll be a bit noisier.”

Owen has yet to be on the winning side against his former club but knows, playing for United, that could change this season.

“As usual between United and Liverpool, it’ll be a competitive game between two of the world’s top teams,” he added.

“The teams are more equally matched perhaps than when I went back with Newcastle, so it should be a good game and an exciting day.”

With Liverpool already having lost three Premier League matches this season, Owen is well aware the damage a United victory at Anfield could do to Rafael Benitez’s side. But, with United having lost at Burnley early in the season, he is wary of United slipping up.