Owen a doubt for cup tie

England striker Michael Owen could miss his third match in a row tomorrow when Liverpool face Sheffield United in the Worthington Cup.

Owen has been troubled by a hamstring injury which has caused him to sit out the FA Cup victory against Manchester City and the league defeat by Newcastle on New Year’s Day.

Midfielder Dietmar Hamann is still being treated for a shin injury, but Emile Heskey is set to return to the starting line-up after recovering from an ankle problem.

Provisional squad: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Traore, Murphy, Gerrard, Diao, Smicer, Cheyrou, Diouf, Heskey, Owen, Mellor, Baros, Arphexad, Biscan.