I still love the game - Owen.
Byline: By Paul Walker Michael Owen has spoken of his pain and anguish when he misses penalties - and his obsession with playing for Liverpool and scoring goals. Owen has now failed with his last two spot kicks, making it 10 misses in 23 career penalties for the club, and comes under intense scrutiny as his goalscoring form has waned just when Liverpool need him most. With preliminary talks about to start this month over Owen's new contract, he said: "I wish someone would just give us that fourth place and we could finish it all now'. "I get a lot of anguish when I miss penalties, but apart from the odd moment, I always look forward to playing and achieving. We are still in the Uefa Cup and we have got to get into the Champions League. "I could think of many players who are worse off, players with teams who are 13th or 14th who can't go down and can't get into Europe. "Actually, it must be even worse if they are fighting against relegation, I am one of the lucky ones." With reports of death threats to his manager and himself, and the injury to his new fiancee Louise, plus the kidnap attempt on his sister, Owen could easily find the pressures now too much to handle. He admitted: "I suppose I don't relax. "I go home and, at the back of my mind, whatever I do, I am scoring goals. "If I am at home and playing with the baby, I'm thinking `don't bend over too long because you might hurt your back and you may not be able to play'. "That's the life you live as a footballer and you live it for 10 years. I'm obsessed with playing for Liverpool and scoring goals. I do everything in my power to make that possible, you may think that is pressure but I do not see it that way. "I love doing what I am doing. It is a joy. Scoring goals gives you the biggest feeling in the world. "I don't do it because I have got to score goals, I do it because I love it." Liverpool, who are at home to Wolves on Saturday, would love Owen to come out of his current poor scoring run to ensure six points in two Anfield games that could transform their inconsistent season and push them into that coveted top-four spot. |