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".

"Over the years Michael has shown his mental strength and he'll be the first to admit he's going to need that again now," Carragher admitted.

"I felt it was brave of him to take that penalty at Southampton having missed the last one.

"All the players and staff are right behind Michael and I think the fans will be too against Portsmouth because they know what he has done for the club."

He told the club's official website: "He's absolutely devastated at the moment because he cares so much about Liverpool and is desperate to help us get into the Champions League.

"Over the years people have always tried to make out he cared more about England than Liverpool. It's probably because he became a national icon after the World Cup in 1998 and the country took him to their hearts so quickly.

"I think a lot of our fans would like to have him just for Liverpool rather than England. But I know there are no fans better than ours for getting behind a player when he's feeling a bit down."

Houllier added: "I am not worried about Michael. He is going through a tough period but he needs his manager. Michael will be the first name on my team sheet for the Portsmouth game and he will still take the penalties if he wants to. With a bit of luck Michael could have scored three at St Mary's."

Liverpool also have played down talk that Thailand's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, is involved in negotiations to buy a stake in the club.

A spokesman said: "This is nothing more than speculation, and we do not comment on such things".

It is believed that Liverpool are discussing commercial partnerships with Thai businessmen at the moment but suggestions that chairman and owner David Moores is prepared to sell a 25% stake in the club are not on the agenda.