Gerrard gives playful dig at former Liverpool team-mate Owen

‘If I’d have played for Manchester United, I’d have hated coming back here too!’: Steven Gerrard aims playful dig at former Liverpool team-mate Michael Owen after discussing his return to Anfield as Aston Villa boss

  • Steven Gerrard returned to Liverpool for the first time six years after leaving club
  • Aston Villa boss was unable to prevent his side slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Anfield
  • However, Gerrard was all smiles after the game in interview with Michael Owen
  • Owen admitted he hated returning to play Liverpool after leaving the club 

Steven Gerrard couldn’t resist a cheeky quip at Michael Owen’s Manchester United past after his former Liverpool team-mate quizzed him on his Anfield return.

As Aston Villa boss, Gerrard was back at Liverpool for the first time in six years when he last appeared for the club that he played at for over 17 years, featuring in over 700 games and captaining them to Champions League glory in 2005.

Liverpool supporters gave him a standing ovation on his return but his side were unable to avoid slipping to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of a Mohamed Salah penalty.

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Steven Gerrard (right) stands beside ex-Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler for an interview

During a post-match interview on the pitch alongside his former Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler, Owen then interjected from a TV studio to ask him about his former return.

Owen, who broke into the Liverpool team in 1997 before departing for Real Madrid in 2004 went on to sign for the Reds’ bitter rivals Manchester United five years later and admitted he did not enjoy his subsequent returns to the red side of Merseyside.

Owen asked Gerrard: ‘We’ve all gone back to Anfield in different guises, I must admit I hated going back to play against Liverpool.

Michael Owen (left) then joined the interview alongside his former Liverpool team-mates

Gerrard made reference to Owen’s playing days at bitter rivals Manchester United (above)

‘What were your emotions like going back today and how did you feel about taking a team to your home?’

With a wry smile, Gerrard responded by humorously saying ‘If I’d played for Man U I’d hate coming back here too!’, bringing laughs all-round from the ex-Liverpool contingent.

Gerrard had made a promising start as Villa boss with three wins from four games ahead of the trip to Anfield.

But he believes despite Liverpool’s superior display, his side were unfortunate not to grab a draw on his return.

Owen (left) and Gerrard (right) won the League Cup final during their time together at Anfield

Gerrard was unable to prevent his Aston Villa side falling to a 1-0 defeat on his Anfield return

‘There’s certainly a gap in the levels of both teams if we are honest, he added.’ If you look from box to box Liverpool were very good, very strong, we expected that.

‘The plan was for us to contain them, try and take the game to the distance and at certain parts we throw more attacking players at it and try and steal something

‘But ultimately we have lost off the back of a penalty we believe was soft. We believe it was a foul on Tyrone Mings first.’ 




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