Steven Gerrard mugged off Michael Owen when he asked about Liverpool return in 2021

Michael Owen isn’t exactly adored by Liverpool fans.

Despite for all intents and purposes being a Reds legend, there are many Kopites who have never forgiven Owen for his decision to join Manchester United during the twilight years of his career.

Owen is in the top 10 all-time leading goalscorers for the club having broken onto the scene at Anfield as an unstoppable roadrunner up front, going onto win two Premier League Golden Boots and even the Ballon d’Or in 2001.

As the most recent English winner of the prestigious prize and the first of just two victors from the Premier League in the modern era, Owen reached a dazzling peak that you'd expect would secure him legendary status on Merseyside forever.

However, it simply hasn't proved to be the case with Owen having even been given a frosty reception upon returns to Anfield since hanging up his boots.

The iconic England striker was booed by the Kop in 2019 when he pulled on a Liverpool shirt once again for a legends match against AC Milan.

And while some of the jeers were no doubt more playful than malicious, it's hard not to get the vibe that Owen maintains a rather complicated relationship with the supporters who once loved him unconditionally.

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As such, Owen probably doesn't enjoy his returns to Anfield as much as, say, Steven Gerrard does.

Though that might seem like a cruel comparison seeing as Gerrard is many people's pick for the greatest male player to ever pull on a Liverpool jersey, we nevertheless make the contrast for good reason.

That's because Gerrard was keen to crack a joke about how Liverpool fans feel about Owen when he came back to Anfield for the first time as a manager last season with Aston Villa.

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