Michael Owen scored 158 goals in 297 games for Liverpool between 1997 and 2004 and won two League Cups, the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup.
His exploits were enough to earn him legend status at the club, but his departure to Real Madrid left a bad taste in the mouths of most Liverpool fans.
Owen claimed in Ring of Fire, a recent book by Simon Hughes about Liverpool players of the 21st century, that he had wanted to return to Liverpool from the day he left and had made attempts, through his friend Jamie Carragher, to make the move happen.
The move never materialised and Owen joined Manchester United in 2009, which arguably permanently damaged his standing with Liverpool fans.
He’s now an “international ambassador” for Liverpool, and tweeted his support for the team during their 2-1 win over West Brom on Saturday at Anfield.
His former United teammate Wayne Rooney called him out over the tweet.
“Come on Red Men. A win by two goals and it’s ‘top of the league’,” Owen tweeted, which prompted Rooney to remind his 13.9m Twitter followers of Owen’s links with Liverpool’s most bitter rivals.
Rooney wasn't going to let this one slide… https://t.co/73XS0y2Qgi
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 22, 2016
Owen responded to Rooney’s jibe with two tweets. The first one just repeated the message of Owen’s previous tweet.
Come on @WayneRooney. I'd love to see Liverpool at the top of the table!
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) October 22, 2016
Owen then tried to turn the tables on Rooney, by highlighting the United captain’s links with Everton. He also referred to Liverpool as being his “first love.”
Naughty @WayneRooney! Always want my old teams to win but Liverpool are my first love. What about you? Once a Blue always a Blue? 🙂
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) October 22, 2016
There was just one issue with Owen’s description of Liverpool. Like former Liverpool players Carragher, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, he grew up supporting Everton.
Ok sorry mate I actually thought you was an Everton fan as a kid but I was obviously wrong if Liverpool was your 1st love 👍😂👍 https://t.co/WGaOyOnxYm
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) October 22, 2016
Nicely played, Wayne.
Owen has yet to respond, and probably shouldn’t.
And while Rooney’s playing time has been limited recently, and it looks as though his career is winding down, his Twitter game is clearly still strong.
Hopefully we’ll see more tweets from the United captain, and a return to the days when he tweeted like this:
Going to sleep guys gonna count 19 sheep to help me sleep. #whenwasurlastleaguewasibornohyeahbarley
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) June 2, 2011
Or this:
@sam_oldham_LFC cool bring ur sandwedge girl
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) May 17, 2011
Or even this:
Mate mate mate mate mate.
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) July 2, 2011
You can catch up on the latest episode of JOE’s Football Friday Live right here…
