Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes that fellow BT Sport pundit Michael Owen is Liverpool’s best striker of the Premier League era ahead of Robbie Fowler, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres.
Owen, 42, burst onto the scene at Anfield and scored a whopping 158 times in 297 appearances during his prolific spell at Liverpool.
The ex-Liverpool striker, who lifted a Ballon d’Or in 2001, captured an FA Cup, two League Cups and UEFA Cup ahead of a sensational move to Real Madrid in 2004.
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Ferdinand crossed paths with the likes of Fowler, Suarez, Torres and Owen during his remarkable club playing career.
The BT Sport pundit, who played alongside Owen at United and for England, watched on as Liverpool hero Torres tormented former United teammate Nemanja Vidic.
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Ferdinand admitted that he has no first-hand experience of playing against a “prime” Mohamed Salah, but he said people need to put “some respect” on Owen’s name.
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Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, the 43-year-old former England defender insisted that Owen could cause “more sleepless nights than all of the others.”
“People forget what he [Owen] was doing during those times [while at Liverpool],” Ferdinand said.
“He was dismantling the Premier League as a teenager. He was a joke. People need to start putting some respect on his name.”
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Ferdinand added: “If you’re talking about their best year or two years at the club, Michael Owen is in the conversation for the best.
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“A defender playing against all of them, Michael Owen keeps you up later than any of the others.
“I played against Torres, played against Fowler. I’ve not played against prime Salah, that’s the difference.
“If we’re talking number nines, Suarez was a top player and a great player but I just think in Michael Owen’s best season or two he’d give you more sleepless nights than all of the others.”
Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres, Liverpool, Premier League, England, Football
Adnan Riaz