By "The Daily Mirror" 18/8/1998
Wonder Boy Michael Owen is preparing for his own downfall.
The 18-year-old is wise enough to know that it is important that, when it happens, he reacts in the right way to the first setback in his career.
So far it has been Boys' Own stuff - heroics, goals and World Cup exploits.
He started the season with - what else? - another match-winning performance on Sunday in Liverpool's Premiership opener at Southampton, and life couldn't be sweeter.
But he wouldn't be the first star to be built up as one of the nation's saviours only to be knocked down in double-quick time if anything goes wrong.
Owen knows the pitfalls, and he is prepared for his first taste of adversity.
Owen says: "You can have a dip in form or an injury.
"I know people will be looking for my comedown so I have to be ready, to know how to react if it arrives."
His surge to the top has been phenomenal.
Owen says: "I played well in the World Cup and so a lot of people now know me. The new season is here and I'm looking forward to it.
"You feel happy when everything goes well, but you have to realise that football gets faster and faster. Anything can happen."
Speed is Owen's greatest weapon, and he knows that a bad injury might slow him down, that one mis-timed tackle from a defender can prove disastrous.
There can be no better example for Owen than what has happened to his Liverpool team-mate Robbie Fowler.
Hailed as the new Jimmy Greaves, with a wonderfully natural gift for goals, it all turned sour last season as first he was dumped from the England team, then an injury ruled him out of World Cup contention.
But Owen knows that his striking partner will be back more hungry than before.
He says: "Robbie should be back before Christmas and that will be a big boost to the club. He's world-class."
Owen, in an interview screened on Eurosport last night, added: "I think that the players want and expect to win the league.We really are confident this time."
While Anfield's attack continues to look good, their much-criticised defence received a boost yesterday with the news that German international captain Jurgen Kohler has forced showdown talks with his Borussia Dortmund bosses in an attempt to win a move to Liverpool.
And the 32-year-old could even become a Liverpool player before Thursday's deadline for the UEFA Cup.
Kohler's dream switch was blocked by Dortmund officials, who slapped a £3.5million price-tag on the player.
In an angry exchange with officials at Dortmund, Kohler pleaded for the fee to be lowered.
His tactics appear to have worked. Dortmund have contacted Liverpool, who refused to pay £3.5m, to say they are prepared to negotiate.
If the Germans cut the price to around £1m, then Anfield bosses Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier will do business.
