Owen reveals how ‘painful’ returns to Anfield have been

Michael Owen has revealed how painful he finds it returning to Anfield and receiving criticism for his past decisions.

The former Liverpool striker was once a much-loved figure at Anfield, scoring 158 goals in 297 appearances for the Reds between 1997 and 2004.

A move to Real Madrid tarnished his reputation, however, and a switch to Manchester United in 2009 saw some Liverpool fans wash their hands of him completely.

Speaking on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher podcast, Owen opened up about how much the verbal abuse hurts him when he comes back to Anfield, also admitting he still loves the club:

It has been painful going back to Anfield. Crying in the playing lounge and hoping nobody sees. It has been torture for a long time. It is like splitting up with your wife. I can only blame myself, I said yes to Real Madrid. I still love Liverpool.

Read Liverpool Verdict

Owen’s decision to join United was a dreadful one, in my opinion, given the rivalry, but I still think he should be appreciated more by Liverpool fans.

That’s because he was a fantastic player during his seven-year stay – the fact that he won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 speaks volumes about his quality – and he was responsible for some great moments, including his FA Cup-winning goal against Arsenal.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with criticising Owen’s decisions, but he has made it clear how much Liverpool mean to him, and that he always intended to move back after his stint in Madrid.

The likes of Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez have been forgiven for moving on – they admittedly didn’t go to United – and I believe Owen should be, too. He knows he made mistakes, so he shouldn’t be absolved of blame, but he did so much good at Liverpool that his efforts should be appreciated.