Benitez defends decision to sell Owen at a cut price

LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez looked to a future without Michael Owen as he defended the decision to sell the striker for a cut-price fee by citing the costly memory of Steve McManaman’s free transfer.

Benitez has been bombarded with questions about Owen’s weekend move to Real Madrid for a transfer fee of just £8m plus makeweight midfielder Antonio Nunez.

However, after Liverpool’s first game without Owen - a 1-1 draw at Tottenham - Benitez is hoping the fans can now start to look forward, rather than dwell on the past.