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Michael Owen says he has no regrets about the decisions he made during his career but insists Liverpool FC remains close to his heart.

The former Reds striker angered many supporters when he walked away from the club in the summer of 2004 to join Real Madrid for £8million. Owen further damaged his standing among Kopites when he signed for Manchester United five years later.

However, the 33-year-old, who hung up his boots this summer, believes over time most Liverpool fans have come to accept that he only ever did what was best for his career.

“If one of my heroes was going to a team which I didn’t support I wouldn’t like it,” he told the ECHO.

“Listen, I can understand that. If I was a fan, which I once was, I would feel the same, but you have to be grown up about it.

“As a player you only have one career. I have always signed for the best team possible who was in for me at that time.

“If I hadn’t have signed for Man United, the other option at that time was Everton and I don’t think a lot of Liverpool fans would have been happy if I had gone there either.

“If I had turned down both United and Everton I’d have probably ended up playing in the Championship.

“Anyone with any nous or normality about them realises that you only get one shot at it. You have got to do what’s best for your career and to play at the highest level.

“If you wanted to be funny about it you could say ‘well, if I couldn’t play for Liverpool should I just have cancelled my career at 29 when I left Newcastle?’.

“There are two types of fan. Some can see nothing else but their club which is fair enough. But I think the majority of people at Anfield realise it’s not like I did anything for the wrong reasons.

“I played for Liverpool from the tender age of 11 with Stevie Gerrard. Liverpool is in my blood and I want to see them do well.

“I’ve been back to Anfield a couple of times already this season and the reception I’ve had has been great.”

Owen, the eighth highest goalscorer in the club’s history with 158 in 297 appearances, is now a resident pundit for BT Sport.

He has been hugely impressed by the Reds’ flying start to the new Premier League campaign.

Before a ball was kicked in anger Owen backed Brendan Rodgers to lead Liverpool into the Champions League this term and he has seen nothing so far to change his mind.

“The only time I’ve missed playing since I retired was at the game against Man United at Anfield recently,” Owen said.

“The intensity and the buzz of being around the dressing room in my role with BT Sport before kick-off, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. It was fantastic. I thought ‘I wish I was out there’.

“Those were the days I used to love as a player – playing for Liverpool against Manchester United at Anfield.

“They thoroughly deserved to beat Manchester United and I haven’t been surprised by how they’ve started.

“I posted on Twitter at the start of the season my league table for this season.

“I put Liverpool in fourth and I must say I took an awful lot of stick for it – people were saying I must have been on the ale that night!

“But I see no reason why they can’t be in the top four. I watched loads of them in pre-season and I liked what I saw.

“They won all their friendlies pretty convincingly up until that final game against Celtic. I was on a flight back from Dublin with a lot of Liverpool fans. A lot of them were despondent and I couldn’t understand why because I thought they looked really good. Even in that game against Celtic they dominated.

“They have won all three league games so far 1-0 but they should have been more comfortable than that.

“My only worry would be the lack of goals.

“Against Stoke they had to rely on a penalty save in the last minute to get the three points and Villa hardly had a kick against Liverpool but it was still only 1-0.

“But I’ve got to say Liverpool look really solid and everyone looks happy. They’ve still got Luis Suarez to come back and if they can keep key players fit then it’s exciting times for them.”

Daniel Sturridge has provided the inspiration with the winner in each of the Reds’ three league games ahead of Monday’s trip to Swansea City.

Owen admits he has been surprised by the stunning impact of the England striker, who has netted 16 goals in just 20 appearances since his £12million move from Chelsea in January.

He said: “When Daniel signed I thought to myself if Chelsea are willing to sell then is he really going to be what Liverpool need?

“Especially considering Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

“We hadn’t seen too much of him as he hardly ever played at Chelsea. But he has been an absolutely inspired signing by Brendan Rodgers.

“He has started the season really well.

“The key for him, as I know only too well from my own career, is Liverpool keeping him fit because he looks like he’s got the lot. He’s got pace, skill and he has finishing ability.

“Brendan clearly believes in him. In every walk of life if you feel like your boss is appreciative of what you do and gives you his backing that’s a big help.

“That’s how a lot of managers have been successful over the years. Tactically, they might have fallen short at times but they were able to get the best out of players.

“In Brendan Rodgers’ case, he looks like he’s very tactically astute and if that’s the case and players also really enjoy playing for him then he’s got the best of both worlds.”

Michael Owen was speaking at Football Writers’ Association Live sponsored by Barclays. Barclays is thanking fans, community heroes, players and managers for their continued passion, loyalty and dedication. If you think someone deserves a thank you, share your own stories by visiting facebook.com/barclaysfootball or join the conversation on Twitter through #YouAreFootball