Owen: They were the best days
Putting on the red shirt again during Liverpool FC Legends' clash with Real Madrid brought back some incredible memories for Michael Owen.
The former Reds No.10 joined the likes of Robbie Fowler, Jamie Carragher and Luis Garcia at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first official Legends game, and netted a superb headed goal during the 4-2 defeat.
Reflecting on running out with the Liver bird on his chest once more during Sunday's charity fixture, he told Liverpoolfc.com: "It was the best days of our lives [wearing the red shirt].
"I think if you ask any of the lads, in my case I was 17, 18, 19, 20, and they were the best days of my life really, of my career, just so much fun and we obviously shared it with some of the lads in the dressing room.
"Just meeting up again, laughing, joking, having a drink, it was brilliant to see the lads again and it just reminds you of what great days they were."
Owen also had the distinction of joining Jerzy Dudek and Steve McManaman in playing for both teams in the Spanish capital.
He added: "It was great and I think everyone really enjoyed it.
"Obviously it was a charity match first and foremost, but for a few old lads like me it was good fun.
"I was adamant that I wanted to play for Liverpool and just make a cameo role for Madrid and that's what Jerzy [Dudek] and Steve [McManaman] did as well so it worked out perfectly, playing a half for Liverpool and everyone got a game and had a bit of fun."
On his goal, the Englishman added: "You laugh and joke before the game and you don't prepare like you normally would for a game but it's just amazing, as soon as you cross that line just all your natural instincts come flooding back.
"You want to win again, you get in there where it hurts to score a goal and it was good to score."
Next up for the Legends is a meeting with rivals Manchester United, scheduled for September 3 in Sweden - and Owen would love to be involved again.
He continued: "I think we've got a pretty decent team in many ways, you know, competitive instincts creeping in again, but I thought we played quite well and probably deserved to win the game.
"The referee gave two penalties for them, we had a blatant one not given for handball and that would have made it 3-0. Obviously Robbie [Fowler] hit the post as well to make it 3-0.
"I think we have got a decent team and we will be a match for any team so hopefully we can play a few more."