Is Michael Owen really a Liverpool legend?

Premier League legend Michael Owen has self-proclaimed himself a Liverpool legend despite playing for their biggest rivals, Manchester United, at the end of his career.

According to BBC Sport, when asked if he considers himself a Liverpool legend, Owen confidently said, "In my eyes? Yes."

Owen joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2004, and his move away from Anfield signalled a downturn in his career. He battled a series of injuries before joining Manchester United as a role player in 2009.

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At Manchester United, Owen won his one and only Premier League title in 2011 and secured the League Cup. Despite his success at Old Trafford, Owen admitted he hated returning to Anfield.

According to the Mirror, Owen said, "I didn't like it (facing Liverpool). Don't get me wrong, I signed for Manchester United and loved my time there. I could've signed for Everton! I would've been hated no matter what I did."

"Forget it was Manchester United; I hated going back [to Anfield] with Newcastle as well. I just didn't like playing for any other team against Liverpool."

Owen's move to Manchester United was seen as unforgivable to Liverpool fans at the time. Despite that, if you look at what he did for Liverpool, should he be considered a legend?

The former England man joined Liverpool at the age of 12 and rose rapidly through the ranks in the late 1990s. He displayed rapid pace and composure to find the net and debuted in May 1997, topping it off with a goal. He was the club's youngest goalscorer (17 years, 143 days).

Before the 1997-98 season, Owen replaced an injured Robbie Fowler as Liverpool's starting forward, and they didn't look back. In his first full season, he won the Premier League Golden Boot (18 goals) and the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Owen finished third in the PFA Player of the Year voting, was runner-up to Zinedine Zidane in the World Player of the Year award, and finished fourth in the FIFA World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year awards.

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In his second season with Liverpool, Owen retained his Golden Boot award, scoring 18 goals again in the league and becoming Liverpool's main offensive threat, with the focus being on through balls and balls over the top for the Englishman to chase on.

According to ESPN, Liverpool's style of play was ruining Owen's hamstring, which he persistently injured at the close of the century. He missed five months of the 1999-2000 season and lost his Golden Boot to Kevin Philips.

Owen returned to full fitness for the 2000/01 season and helped Liverpool win the League Cup, the FA Cup, in which he scored two goals in the final, and the UEFA Cup. According to Transfermarkt, he scored 16 goals in the Premier League, three in the FA Cup, one in the League Cup, and four in Europe.

Owen won the Ballon d'Or in 2001 for his exploits during that season. He became the first Englishman to win the award since Kevin Keegan in 1979 and the last English player to win it.

The following season, Owen helped Liverpool challenge for the league after scoring 19 goals in 29 league games, but they finished second to Arsenal. In his remaining two Premier League seasons, Owen scored 19 goals in 35 games and 16 in 29. He moved to Real Madrid in 2004.

According to Transfermarkt, he scored 118 goals in 216 Premier League appearances and 158 goals in 297 total appearances. He was Liverpool's top scorer from 1997 until 2004 and won six major trophies, including a second League Cup triumph in 2003. Is he a Liverpool legend?

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