LION OF THE WEEKEND - MICHAEL OWEN

 

"He looked really, really sharp" - Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel

"Liverpool used him well" - Graeme Souness

"No one can accuse him of not doing his bit" - The Independent

Just 72 hours after equalling Sir Geoff Hurst's England goalscoring record, it was business as usual for 23-year-old Michael Owen.

Another double in Saturday's 3-1 win at Blackburn took the goal machine's tally to five in his last four games for club and country.

He has now scored more than two-thirds of Liverpool's goals this season and it is clear to see the ambition that is driving him on.

 

"A Champions League place is the absolute minimum requirement this season," says Owen.

The good news is that Owen is finally getting chances. "On another day he could have scored five," said manager Gerrard Houllier after arguably the Premiership's best goalkeeper Brad Friedel had denied the England striker three times.

No matter, it was the two that Owen scored that counted.

The first was a deadly penalty after a foul on Diouf. Friedel guessed correctly where the penalty would be struck but it carried too much power and accuracy.

With the score at 1-1, the decisive goal arrived midway through the second half. Steven Gerrard and Vladimir Smicer were involved in the build-up but there was still plenty for Owen to do from 15 yards.

Needless to say in his current form, the finish was exemplary, struck low and firm beyond Friedel and Liverpool were able to go on and win 3-1.

 

LION OF THE WEEKEND - WEEKLY AWARDS
James Beattie 1
David Beckham 1
Jermain Defoe 1
Emile Heskey 1
Frank Lampard 1
Michael Owen 1
Wayne Rooney 1

By Joe Bernstein

 

TheFA.com will announce their Lion of the Weekend every Monday. A Lion of the Season award will be announced in May based on the number of weekly nominations