Steven Gerrard has settled the long-running Liverpool debate over whether Michael Owen or Robbie Fowler was the superior striker. The former captain, who played with both, stated Owen was better for pace and movement while Fowler was the more natural finisher.

Gerrard made his comments on the Open Goal podcast, offering a definitive perspective from a club legend. "I had a real top connection with Michael Owen; it was like we were just on a wavelength together," he said. On their specific qualities, Gerrard added, "I would say Fowler was a better natural finisher. But in terms of sort of like fear, in terms of pace, movement... [Owen was superior]."

Gerrard's personal connections

Steven Gerrard made his Liverpool debut in 1998 and grew up idolising both players. He watched Fowler from The Kop as a youth and had shirts with his and Jamie Redknapp's names on. Gerrard noted he became mates with Fowler and Redknapp in the dressing room but played alongside Owen for a longer period during his career.

Context of the rivalry

The debate has raged for years among fans, with the players themselves having a public spat in 2023. Gerrard provided key context, explaining he did not play with Fowler during the striker's peak goal-scoring seasons due to injury timelines. "I didn't play with Robbie when he was getting 30 goals a season," Gerrard said, acknowledging he arrived later when Fowler was not the same player he was from ages 18 to 23. During that early peak, Fowler's rate of a goal every 88 minutes was phenomenal, a benchmark for the club's current forwards to consider as they review the season's standings.

His comments arrive as the current Liverpool side prepares for a key test. The team sits sixth in the Premier League with nine points from five games, and they face a key challenge when league leaders Manchester City visit Anfield on October 11. Fans can check the official fixtures page for that match and all upcoming games. The team is on a strong run of form, with four wins and a draw in their last five matches across all competitions.

First reported at Daily Mirror Football