Michael Owen makes sentimental return to Anfield

Mar 8 2008 by Nick Smith, Liverpool Daily Post

MICHAEL OWEN makes a sentimental return to Anfield today with his Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan backing him to make it a successful visit.

The Barclays Premier League clash is only the second time the Newcastle United striker will have run out at Anfield since he left Liverpool for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004.

And his first return on Boxing Day 2005 proved a massive disappointment as Owen never had a sniff as Liverpool ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

However Keegan, himself a returning Anfield legend, says: “I don’t think Michael will need an extra incentive. He’s been outstanding in training and matches since I’ve been here – his work-rate has been terrific.

“When we weren’t creating anything he was scoring goals despite that, and against Blackburn last Saturday, when we created chances but he didn’t score, he came into the dressing room and apologised.

“He will be up for it. I know what it’s like going back to play there. It’s a wonderful experience going back to a former club, made even more wonderful when you get something.”

Keegan himself is going back to Liverpool as Newcastle manager for the time since pictures were beamed around the world of him and Terry McDermott slumped over the hoardings after Stan Collymore’s last-gasp winner for Liverpool in April 1996.

But Keegan is still the last United manager to beat Liverpool on their own ground in the Premier League, even if it was 14 years ago.

And Keegan wants some of that spirit from 1994 to rub off on his side today, with the Magpies still looking for their first league win since they came away from Fulham with the three points in the middle of December.

He said: “If you go to Anfield expecting to get nothing that is exactly what you will get.

“That’s why we will roll up there expecting to come home with something and we are going to have a go and make sure we give them a good game.”

Reflecting on the 4-3 Liverpool win over Newcastle in 1996 – a match still hailed by some as the greatest game in the history of the Premier League – he added: “Obviously it was disappointing to lose that match. But it was more disappointing if we had played badly and lost. If I am honest in those days when we went to the likes of Liverpool we expected to go there and win.

“We are still capable of winning but really you cannot compare the state of the two clubs at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Keegan has hailed new signing Lamine Diatta as his “insurance policy”.

The 32-year-old defender signed for Newcastle United yesterday until the end of the season after protracted talks at St James’ Park.

Diatta – who is short of match fitness – is not in Keegan’s squad for Anfield but Keegan expects the centre-half, who was a free agent after buying himself out of his Besiktas contract earlier this season, to soon be pushing for a first-team place.

Keegan said: “He’ll benefit us from the fact that he’s a centre-half, and an international player.”