Michael Owen reveals he was desperate for Liverpool return before signing for rivals Manchester United

MICHAEL OWEN has revealed he was desperate for a return to Liverpool before signing for rivals Manchester United.

The former Ballon d'Or winner angered Liverpool supporters when he penned a deal to join Sir Alex Ferguson's United after leaving Newcastle in 2009.

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Owen then became a fan favourite at Old Trafford when he bagged a dramatic last minute strike in a 4-3 win over arch rivals Manchester City.

But Owen, who scored 118 goals in 216 games for Liverpool, wanted to return to Anfield and even asked Jamie Carragher to try and help with a deal.

Speaking in Simon Hughes' new book Ring of Fire, Owen said: "At every stage - every summer - I was on the phone to Carra [Jamie Carragher] telling him to find a way to get me back.

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"'Does Rafa want me?' I'd say. 'Does Kenny want me? Does Brendan want me?' It was circumstance that stopped it happening. I spoke to Carra and tried to get Benitez to do something. I wanted to put it right somehow.

"When it became clear Benitez didn't want to do a deal, I spoke again with Ferguson.

"He was very positive about me. I was twenty-nine years old. Should I have decided to retire there and then?"

Owen left Liverpool in 2004 to link up with England team-mate David Beckham at Real Madrid but returned England to sign for Newcastle just a year later.

He managed just 71 appearances in an injury-hampered four years at Tyneside.

After leaving United, Owen's career came to an end under Tony Pulis at Stoke.