08 February 2023 , 15:38
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Former Liverpool star Michael Owen was involved in a bust-up with fellow pundit Chris Sutton after being named the favourite ex-Reds star of Manchester City legends Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.
Belgium midfielder De Bruyne named Liverpool as his favourite team while growing up and coming through Gent's academy. He expressed a desire to play for the Reds, but ended up joining Chelsea when he first moved to England, later moving to current club Man City.
Aguero would later reveal he shared his former team-mate's stance. The Argentina striker explained his position in a Twitter Q&A in 2022, shortly after retiring.
"When I was a kid I was looking up to Michael Owen," Aguero said. "I've always said it, even in my book, I like him because he's small, he had the No.10 just like me in my club and he played as a forward."
Just a few days after Aguero's comments, though, Owen was in the headlines for a different reason. The retired frontman, who now works as a pundit, was involved in a heated clash on live TV.
Michael Owen shares sweet message to celebrate lookalike son's birthday
The clash of minds was prompted by a clash of heads, in this case involving Lisandro Martinez - then still at Ajax and yet to join Manchester United - and Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi. Sutton, a Premier League winner with Blackburn, pulled no punches in the debate.
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Owen upset Chris Sutton during a BT Sport appearance (BT Sport)
"Until IFAB step up and change the concussion protocols, they are not looking after player welfare," Sutton said. "Player welfare isn’t put right within the game.
"You saw the horrible incident at the weekend when Robin Koch carried on after a serious head injury. Football doesn’t care. It needs to start caring.
"He needs to come off the pitch to the sanctuary of the dressing room and get checked by an independent doctor. In the mean time, he is replaced by a temporary substitute so you are not numerically disadvantaged. It is common sense. Why are IFAB not stepping up?”
Owen attempted to chime in on what he termed "bumps and bangs on the head". When Sutton challenged him, Owen argued: “If you take what you say to an extreme, every time they roll around holding their leg, they have broken their leg” - much to the annoyance of his fellow BT Sport pundit.
“Michael, that is the view of a caveman," Sutton said. "Football needs to catch up”