Premiership: I never wanted to leave Liverpool - Fowler

Robbie Fowler has talked about the bust-up with Phil Thompson which marred the start of Liverpool's season.

He said the argument with Liverpool's coach had been blown out of proportion and said he had never wanted to leave the club.

Fowler was dropped for two games until he apologised to Thompson. The striker is expected to play tonight.

The bust-up came after Thompson had a go at Fowler for blasting the ball into the net while the coach was kneeling behind the goal. Thompson suggested he had been at the club too long.

Thompson soon apologised for his part in the row, but until yesterday, Fowler was having none of it and was axed from the squad for the Charity Shield and West Ham games.

He said: "I was not taking the stance as part of any ego trip, or being some prima donna as some people suggested. I hope people recognise I took the stance I did because I felt strongly about the incident, and the principle involved... and that is a private matter between me and the club.

"I think the whole issue was blown out of proportion and should never have gone as far as it did.

"I love Liverpool and the fans and the thought of leaving has never crossed my mind."

Ex-Liverpool defender Phil Neal backed Gerard Houllier's handling of the situation. He said: "There are certain principles on the training field that Robbie did not adhere to and the manager went with his assistant and was probably right to do that."

Neal blamed frustration for Fowler's part in the fall out after spending much of last season on the bench.