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Michael Owen during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg one match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)

As Liverpool and Newcastle United prepare to lock horns in Sunday’s League Cup final, there will be a number of former players with perhaps split allegiances ahead of the showpiece at Wembley.

But his alienation from the Liverpool fanbase is well-documented, after signing for Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer of 2009.

It did not matter that he scored 158 goals for the Reds after coming through their academy, most memorably fired them to FA Cup and treble glory in 2001 and remains the only Liverpool star to win the Ballon d’Or, in the eyes of supporters his switch to Old Trafford was unforgivable.

Yet if we’re being honest, supporters had already turned on Owen before he became a Red Devils player.

He was taunted by supporters during his first return to Anfield with Newcastle United, as they chanted ‘Where were you in Istanbul?’, after he failed to force through a Liverpool return after a solitary season in Real Madrid.

Signing for the Magpies in a £16m, Owen is not well-liked by Newcastle supporters either.

James’ Park was plagued by injuries as he remained a shadow of the world-class star he had been for the Reds.

He captained Newcastle to relegation in 2008/09 before leaving at the end of his contract for Manchester United.

“I didn’t like it [facing Liverpool], I didn’t like it, no.

“Don’t get me wrong, I signed for Manchester United and loved my time there.

But the former Reds striker has now revealed he would have loved to join Celtic instead, having been linked with the Hoops when his Newcastle contract expired.

“My dad grew up, spent a lot of time in Scotland, his mum was Scottish,” he told Record Sport earlier this season.
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