Michael Owen: Liverpool’s opponents travel to Anfield with more hope

Michael Owen believes Anfield has lost some of its fear factor ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Ludogorets Razgrad.

The Reds are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at home in the Premier League on Saturday as they play in their first Champions League game in five years.

With Suarez moving on to pastures new and with a whole host of new signings settling in, teams will travel to Anfield with slightly more hope

Michael Owen

But former Liverpool striker Owen reckons the Merseyside outfit don’t worry opponents as much following the £75m departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer transfer window.

“Last season, as everyone witnessed in open-mouthed admiration, Liverpool tore into teams from the very first whistle and on a number of occasions the match was sewn up well before half-time,” Owen wrote on Sportlobster.

“Their sheer pace up front as well as the mercurial skills of Luis Suarez was simply too much for most of their Premier League opponents.

“However, with Suarez moving on to pastures new and with a whole host of new signings settling in, teams will travel to Anfield with slightly more hope and a considerably more defensive mind-set.

“I’m sure Liverpool fans will hope Brendan Rodgers and his team can quickly learn to develop another plan by luring teams in and then hitting them quickly on the counter-attack with their lighting pace up front.

“If so, Ludogorets could be in for a long night.”