Liverpool Lore: Michael Owen and the rise of Liverpool's golden boy

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Playing for England from the age of 14, he turned the heads of the biggest youth teams in the country, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United showing interest.Whilst he didn’t put pen to paper until later, he was training with Liverpool’s youth team from the age of 16 and outshining all of the older boys in his class.When he turned 17, he made the choice to join Liverpool full-time and commit his future to the Reds. People had no choice but to stand up and take notice, and as more eyes watched him, the better he grew.After representing England at every level and on the back of this glorious season, he got his big call-up to the senior team for the 1998 World Cup.The Argentine AssaultIn a squad that was pipped to have a deep tournament run with strikers like Shearer, Sheringham and club team mate, Robbie Fowler, Owen found himself starting at the World Cup at 18 years old.He’d proven time and time again that his age wasn’t an issue, and what he did under the lights in Saint-Ettienne certainly proved that.After getting through the group stage, we faced an old enemy in Argentina, and what we saw was a World Cup classic.

Owen, using the pace he was renowned for, sets off down the line to push Liverpool forward.Suddenly, his leg buckles, and he comes to a full halt on the floor by the sideline. He had ruptured his hamstring and was out for 5 months.That pacey, direct, and fierce youngster had been given his first setback, and unfortunately, he was never able to fully recover.In interviews, he’s said that altered how he needed to play.

He’s gone on record saying that from the age of 23, he knew he’d begun to decline as a top-level player.At a time when strikers hit their prime, Owen was capped. Did I eventually grow up and appreciate all he’d done for Liverpool and his country despite his setbacks?