5 individual battles that define the Liverpool vs Manchester United rivalry in the Premier League era

Michael Owen vs Michael Owen

Michael Owen went from a Liverpool legend to a traitor for Liverpool fans

As absurd as this might sound, the Michael Owen debate is one that still divides Liverpool fans.

Who would have thought that a Liverpool academy graduate who went on to score 158 goals for the club in just 297 games while also winning the Ballon d’Or would go on to represent their arch-rivals Manchester United?

Owen was a fan favourite at Anfield akin to Steven Gerrard but his career didn’t go as planned after leaving the Merseyside club. He went from Real Madrid to Newcastle United in the space of one year while constantly struggling with injuries.

In 2009, he wanted to leave Newcastle after they were relegated and according to Owen, he did everything he could to try and return to Anfield but then manager Rafa Benitez was not interested in bringing the player back.

So instead, he went on to join Manchester United! He was always a squad player while at Man Utd, but he went on to win Liverpool’s elusive Premier League title in 2010/11.

This has further alienated Owen from the Liverpool fans while the Manchester United fans use often use Owen to irk the Liverpool faithful.