Premiership: Owen dilemma for Thompson

Liverpool caretaker boss Phil Thompson must decide whether to plunge Michael Owen into the Premiership clash at Charlton on Saturday or hold him back for next week’s Champions League decider against Borussia Dortmund and the weekend clash with Manchester United.

Thompson decided not to risk using Owen from the bench against Boavista on Tuesday, with his history of hamstring problems.

Owen’s England team-mate Steven Gerrard, who is having treatment on a slight back problem, comes into contention at The Valley.

Liverpool will be without hamstring victim Sami Hyypia, and long-term injured stars Markus Babbel and Gregory Vignal.

Team (from): Dudek, Wright, Carragher, Henchoz, Riise, Murphy, McAllister, Hamann, Barmby, Smicer, Fowler, Gerrard, Owen, Heskey, Litmanen, Redknapp, Berger, Kirkland, Biscan.