Premier League English

Liverpool legend Michael Owen heaps praise on Jurgen Klopp

Michael Owen has he is of his former club after Jurgen Klopp’s side won the Premier League title.

Liverpool hero Michael Owen has described his joy and declared how proud he is at seeing Jurgen Klopp’s and his boys finally win the Premier League after 30 years without a league title.

Owen played for Liverpool between 1996 and 2004, having come through the academy system at the club, but inevitably came up short in multiple title races.

Liverpool have now finally emerged champions of England for the first time since 1990, after Manchester City suffered a demoralising 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Thursday night, tipping the scale finally in favor of the Reds.

The Reds are now 23 points clear of City with 21 points to play for, meaning the title will be heading to Anfield for the first time since it changed names.

Liverpool have been unquestionably sublime this year, having lost just once in 31 games in a shock defeat to Watford. By winning the league with seven games left to be played, they have obliterated the record of earliest title win.

And Owen was full of praise for his old side, as he gushed with unbridled pride over the incredible job Jurgen Klopp has done at the club since taking over from Brendan Rodgers in 2015 and has taken the Reds to back-to-back Champions League finals, winning their most recent trip to the final.

They have also been formidable in domestic football, having lost just twice over the last two seasons.

After the decisive City-Chelsea game, Owen told Premier League Productions of his relief to see his old side finally win the trophy that had agonisingly eluded them for three decades.

He said: “Nobody can say they don’t deserve it. Not just for what they are at the moment, but having come second so many times.

“I’ve been a part of teams that have been striving to win that title.

“First of all it was Manchester United in the way, then it was Arsenal, then it was Chelsea.

“Every time you felt as though you were getting closer it would be taken away.

“Then you’d win a cup, it would give you more confidence to win the Premier League again but it just wouldn’t happen.

“Finally, finally Liverpool have got their hands on that trophy.

“It’s just great, I’m so happy for so many people. Jurgen Klopp needs the biggest pat on the back of all.

“Brendan Rodgers got close, but this team now – he’ll go down as a legend at Liverpool Football Club for what he’s done already. The sky is the limit for what this team can do in the future.”

Owen later summed it all up succintly : “I can’t think of a better manager in world football at the moment.”