Fowler believes present Reds are better than side he left

ROBBIE FOWLER rates the new Liverpool under Rafael Benitez a far better outfit than the one he left behind four years ago.

The 30-year-old’s love affair was dramatically ended when he was sold to Leeds in November 2001 for £11 million. He had fallen out with Gerard Houllier despite having just been part of the treble success of FA Cup, Worthington Cup and UEFA Cup. Liverpool had also won the European Super Cup and Charity Shield and secured Champions League qualification as Premiership runners-up. It was the pinnacle of the Houllier era, one that Fowler was very soon to be forced out of by the Frenchman, despite having scored in the League Cup final against Birmingham and come off the bench to bag a classic in the UEFA Cup final against Alaves in Dortmund.

That Fowler strike is a goal even now Benitez admits to logging away in his memory bank. When Fowler steps out - probably only as substitute - for his homecoming match against Birmingham to the expected heroes’ reception, he is convinced times have changed for the better.