Carra Urges Fans Not To Boo Owen In Testimonial Game

Jamie Carragher hopes that
Liverpool supporters will give
Manchester United's Michael
Owen a warm reception when
he runs out at Anfield
tomorrow afternoon.
Kopites have not held the
former England international,
who will play for his former club
in Carragher's testimonial
against an Everton XI, in high
regard following his decision to
quit Anfield in 2004 before
joining for the Reds' most hated
rivals last summer
Owen, 30, returned to L4 last
October to a chorus of boos
when Manchester United
suffered a 2-0 defeat but
Carragher believes that is
hoping that the Anfield faithful
will be appreciative of the
striker's contribution to
Liverpool rather than his
current status as a Red Devils
player.
He said: "I hope it doesn't affect
the reception, I think he
deserves a great one for what
he did for Liverpool. He was a
fantastic player - right up there
with the greats for what he did.
"He left in difficult
circumstances but when he
went to Manchester United his
career was on a bit of a
downward spiral, he'll admit
that himself.
"The chance to go to one of the
biggest clubs of the world was
difficult to turn down. He moved
and upset some people but he
had to do what was right for
himself and his family.
"His kids were just starting
school and he wanted to move
back home so that came into it
as well.
"I saw the other day Bobby
Charlton played in Tommy
Smith's testimonial and he wore
a Liverpool kit."