Reds rally round 'devastated' Owen

LIVERPOOL have closed ranks around "devastated" Michael Owen as the true extent of the damage his penalty misses have done to their season sinks in.

Owen's 10th penalty miss on Sunday at Southampton out of 23 taken in his Liverpool career could cost the Reds a Champions League place while his error from the spot last month at Portsmouth ended their interest in the FA Cup.

Manager Gerard Houllier insists Owen will be the first name on his team sheet against Portsmouth on Wednesday while team-mate Jamie Carragher believes the little hitman "is the type of player who will bounce back and shut everyone up".