Gerrard adds to pleas for Owen to remain a Red

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has urged Michael Owen to follow his example by committing his future to Anfield as he insisted the striker’s loyalty to the club should not be questioned.

Gerrard signed a new four-year contract before Christmas and is placing his trust in Owen doing the same as he believes Liverpool can claim the all-important fourth spot in the Premiership this season.

"I play with Michael all the time and train with him every day. I know he's our main man and we need to keep hold of him.

"I have committed myself for another four years and I am sure Michael will too.

"Nobody really knows what he is thinking only himself.

"Michael is his own man and will make his own decision but I'd love him to stay.

"Nobody can question Michael's loyalty to Liverpool. He has been here since he was eight.

"He has scored a lot of goals for the club and pulled us out of so many games when we have been struggling."

Owen's future has come under renewed scrutiny after Holmes, of the SFX agency which represents him, stressed Liverpool needed to qualify for the Champions League.

Otherwise, Holmes seemed to infer, Owen may not be prepared to renew his Liverpool contract, which has only 18 months left to run.

"A crucial five months await Liverpool. Michael is now 24 and moving into his prime.

"He needs to be playing at the very highest level of club football," Holmes said earlier this week.

It would seem this apparent warning was not directly sanctioned by Owen, although it is clear Gerard Houllier's side cannot afford to miss out on the Champions League for two seasons running.

Their hard-earned victory at Chelsea last night at least re-ignited their hopes of fourth place, and victory in their match in hand over Charlton would take them into that very spot.

With Owen set to make his long-awaited return to action against Aston Villa this weekend, after remaining on the bench at Stamford Bridge, there could be light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Liverpool boss.

He does, though, have something of a goalkeeping crisis on his hands, with Jerzy Dudek having joined Chris Kirkland on the sidelines and 23-year-old Patrice Luzi now set to face Villa.

However, it is the doubts over Owen's future that remain the main cloud on the horizon and, if he does not sign a new deal this summer, Liverpool would have to consider selling him to avoid the risk of losing him on a Bosman free transfer 12 months later.

Finishing fourth is the key and Gerrard, who was a Sky Sports pundit at Chelsea due to a thigh injury, insisted the players had owed their manager a good performance after he had come under fire at the club's annual general meeting.

"It's about time the boys stood up and were counted as in certain games the players have let him down," he admitted.

"We've all been guilty of going through a lack of confidence and form but the players can't afford to go missing now. We need to stick together and put in performances like this one to get that fourth spot."

While Bruno Cheyrou scored Liverpool's winner on his return from injury, Emile Heskey was the man of the match with a committed, physical display as he led the line on his own, having been urged by Houllier to play "just like he did at Leicester".

Gerrard admitted: "If Emile had played like that all season then we would be in the title race. That's how highly I rate him.

"He was brilliant against Chelsea and I hope he can turn in performances like that over the remaining games of the season. If he does then I'm confident we can get fourth place.

"It's up to him. I'm always encouraging him because I know what he's capable of. When he's up for a game he's unplayable and Chelsea found that out."