By Andrew Forgrave for "The Daily Post" 17/8/1998
Michael Owen answered any cynicism about his genius yesterday with a goal that lit the blue touchpaper on Liverpool's Premiership challenge.
Far from being jaded after his World Cup exploits, or weighed down by expectation, the 18-year-old striker showed he is ready to continue where he left off in France.
His 72nd-minute winner in Liverpool's impressive 2-1 victory over Southampton at the Dell was the perfect start to a season rich in promise. Roy Evans admitted last night the players were more keyed up for this season than any before as they took all three points against Dave Jones' hard-working side.
Karlheinz Riedle cancelled out Egil Ostenstad's first-half goal before Owen stole the show with a close-range volley after Paul Jones' fumble.
Joint managers Evans and Gerard Houllier were keen to emphasise the team spirit in the side but afterwards Owen was the name on everyone's lips.
Even Houllier admits he is astonished by Owen's transformation whenever he pulls on a football shirt.
"You cannot compare him with anybody," said the Frenchman.
"He looks so young and so fragile but in fact he is strong and aggressive, with the guts of a top-level footballer. When you see him, you realise he is well brought up but on the pitch he is a fierce competitor, a winner. His most important quality is that every time he wants to score. Of course he is also very quick and that is so important for strikers where there is less space."
Owen had only scored one of the 13 goals in Liverpool's pre-season build-up but his contribution to the season's opening Premiership game, in front of a Sky television audience, could not have been scripted better.
Liverpool had only lost four opening league games since 1962, and had not lost in their last four visits to the Dell, but Ostenstad's 36th-minute header threatened those records.
Riedle's strike was the perfect riposte and Evans was glowing in his tribute to the team's spirit and character.
"From day one, when the players reported back for pre-season training, I have been delighted with their determination to do well this season," he said. "There has been a tremendous attitude in the side."
With full-backs Veggard Heggem and Steve Staunton making useful debuts, Liverpool appear to have genuine title credentials this year. Evans, who said Owen remained focused despite all the distractions, singled out for particular mention young Jamie Carragher.
"It's well-recorded that we're looking for another centre-back but, with 60 or so games in the season, it's important Jamie continues to play well for us.
"It's difficult for a young lad to play in defence but he did well in pre-season so we've kept him there.
"He's an old head on young shoulders and we've always had high hopes for him. Over the past two seasons he hasn't let us down and he's still improving."
Liverpool's win was a rare setback for the Saints manager Jones, who has consistently enjoyed good results over Merseyside teams in recent seasons.
He said: "I felt in the end Liverpool would have been happy with the point. But I am happy by the way we played against one of the strongest sides in the Premiership."
