‘Owen will stay at Anfield’: Houllier
The third round tie will bring back memories of the acrimonious league match in September, when Owen scored twice in a 3-1 Liverpool win, Milan Baros and Jamie Carragher suffered fractured legs, and Houllier and Graeme Souness engaged in an angry war of words in the aftermath.
But Houllier is more concerned with the fitness of Owen after a shin injury, and the England striker's often doubted desire to stay at the club.
Owen returned from injury to play an hour and score in Saturday's crucial win over Leeds, but speculation was still rife that he would not sign a new contract and was heading for the Anfield exit door.
Houllier admitted he had spoken to Owen about the latest transfer claims, and the Frenchman said: "I have had a chat with Michael and I can assure you it is not the case that he wants to go.
"In terms of the injury, everything is fine with Michael. He felt his ankle a bit after the Leeds game because there was some blood around it, but he is okay now.
"Every game is a priority and we will play the best team we can muster."
With cup holders Liverpool in 10th place in the Premiership, this competition offers an early route back into Europe required to keep Owen happy.
Success on the pitch will certainly dispel Owen's concerns, plus the fact his friend and England team-mate Steven Gerrard the club's new captain is maintaining he is on the brink of signing his new contract.
Houllier was not slow to bracket the pair together when he said: "Both Michael and Stevie are important assets to the club and they both want to stay. Which is good to hear.
"They are still young and their best years are to come, but they have reached a good international level and I repeat, I am pleased that they both want to stay and I am sure the fans will like that."
Houllier has been backed in his assessment of the situation Owen has just 20 months of his current contract to run by club legend Ian Rush, now Liverpool's strikers' coach.
Rush said: "I am absolutely certain Michael Owen will still be a Liverpool player next season, and I have no doubt he will sign another deal for the club.
"Suggestions that he has already decided he wants to leave are nonsense.
"Michael is as committed to Liverpool as he has always been. He wants to win more trophies and Anfield is the place he wants to do it."
The Owen situation has been a distraction for Houllier as he contemplates another showdown with Souness after the pair publicly fell out over the Lucas Neill tackle that broke Carragher's leg in the league match.
But Houllier would only say: "This draw has been ironic, but it is just a game of football. I have not spoken to Graeme Souness, we are both concentrating on the game.
"There will be no atmosphere, it will be down to common sense this time. I do not really want to go back on what I said, I meant it at the time but it is over now."
Graeme Souness may have made his name with Liverpool but the chill wind that has blown between him and the club ever since his unhappy term as manager has this season turned icy.
Souness' assistant Tony Parkes was in no doubt where the attention would be focused, despite an appalling run which has seen Blackburn lose five out of six Premiership matches.
Parkes said: "The hype comes from what's been said between the two clubs. That's Graeme's passion and you will never take that away from him. People don't want it to drop, don't want to forget it and it's a big interest to the next game.
"It was something that happened between the two managers particularly and I'm sure they are big enough to sort it out.
"At the time nobody knew the lad had broken his leg his own medical team didn't realise that they stood him up and walked him off the pitch.
"From our side we were quite annoyed with some of comments that were made. At the time of the tackle nobody realised quite how serious the injury to Jamie Carragher was. With hindsight it's easy to say 'it's an over-the-top tackle'."
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