'It bloody hurts' - Ex-Liverpool striker Michael Owen admits he now 'avoids' Anfield because he 'doesn't feel welcome'

Owen became a part of Liverpool at the age of 12 and spent the next 13 years of his life at the club, which included eight years of senior football. At Anfield, he broke several records and to this day remains the club's seventh-highest scorer with 158 goals in 297 appearances.

Despite all his achievements on Merseyside, Owen has admitted he avoids going back to Anfield over potential hostility from the fans. Owen left the Reds in 2004 and spent a year at Real Madrid before returning to the Premier League and joining Newcastle. The penultimate destination of his career was Liverpool's bitter rivals Manchester United, where he finally won the Premier League title in 2011.

Speaking to The Athletic, the ex-England forward said: "I don’t feel as though I’m welcomed or loved and it bloody hurts, so I prefer to avoid it."

Owen also admitted that his heart still "busts with pride" every time he approaches the iconic Stadium in Merseyside.

Arne Slot's men now enjoy a healthy eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after last weekend's results. Liverpool have two big games to look forward to this week as they first face Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and then host reigning English champions Manchester City at Anfield.