Crouch steals the limelight on Owen’s homecoming

Liverpool 2 Newcastle 0

The rest of the country may yet need some convincing that Peter Crouch is good enough to wear an England jersey but yesterday his popularity reached fever pitch on Merseyside as the beanpole marksman ensured Owen endured a nightmare return to the club he was worshipped for eight years.

It is only a month ago that the country was laughing at Crouch as he struggled to break his scoring duck following a £7m move from Southampton. Now he has five in six games after helping dismantle lacklustre Newcastle.