Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has warned Liverpool fans that striker Michael Owen will not be worried about their hate taunts. The Manchester United striker faces a rough reception when he returns to Liverpool, the club he played for eight years.
"I don't think it will bother Michael. Everyone wants to be liked but he's got the experience to handle it. It will be interesting to see what kind of reaction he gets," Ferguson said.
"There have been very few players who have played for both clubs. Paul Ince got a bad reception from our fans when he joined Liverpool. Michael may well get that again on Sunday but it is difficult to say," The Sun quoted him, as saying. Owen, 29, was booed when he returned to Anfield with Newcastle in May and can expect twice the abuse now he plays for the Kop's most hated rivals.
But Ferguson believes Owen can ram the taunts back down the Liverpool fans' throats with a winning goal. He is expected to come on as a sub in the Premier League clash and Ferguson insists he is sharp enough to affect the outcome of the game. "He is capable of scoring in any type of match, including at the highest level. He has done that in his career," Ferguson said.
Ferguson maintains Owen is still a master at beating the offside trap - just as he did in the closing seconds to win the Manchester derby. Owen remains the third top forward in Liverpool's history, boasting 258 goals in all competitions between 1996 and 2004.
