Liverpool are FAVOURITES to win the Champions League due to the 'Anfield factor', insists Michael Owen - as the former Reds striker says only Man City and Chelsea can challenge Jurgen Klopp's star-studded side
- Michael Owen backed Liverpool after their comfortable win over Atletico Madrid
- Reds cruised into the last-16 of the Champions League with two games to spare
- Owen also believes Premier League teams have started to dominate in Europe
- Former Reds striker claims the Italian and Spanish leagues have become weaker
Michael Owen has backed Liverpool to win the Champions League this season, while proclaiming that the Premier League has left its rival European leagues trailing in its wake.
Liverpool easily saw off Atletico Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday night to stroll through a group also featuring AC Milan and Porto with two matches still to go, as well as extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 25 games.
The Reds have barely looked troubled on the continent this term and the club's legendary former striker believes the boost in performances from playing at Anfield on a European night gives them a big advantage.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have been untouchable in the Champions League this term
The Reds will hope to win the competition under Klopp again having defeated Tottenham Hotspur to win the 2019 final in Madrid
After watching Liverpool stroll past Atletico Madrid 2-0, Michael Owen believes his former club are now clear favourites to win the Champions League
Owen also states that the only clubs that can stop Jurgen Klopp's outfit are Premier League champions Manchester City and current European champions Chelsea - who defeated Pep Guardiola's side in last season's final.
'The biggest dangers to Liverpool are probably Manchester City and Chelsea', Owen told BT Sport.
'The Anfield factor I can't get out of my head. if you are going to Anfield for a second leg, good luck! They are verging on unbeatable at Anfield.
'You would have to say Liverpool are favourites.'
Chelsea are the defending champions after beating Manchester City in this year's final
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel (left) and City counterpart Pep Guardiola will hope to take the fight to the Reds in Europe this term
Manchester City are still looking to win their first Champions League title despite near misses
Liverpool are looking to win their second Champions League crown in the last four seasons having defeated Tottenham Hotspur in another all-English final from back in 2019.
As it stands all four of the Premier League teams are on course to reach the last-16, with the Reds already qualified, Manchester United and City top of their groups and Chelsea looking comfortable to at least progress as runners-up.
Owen claims that the Premier League has once again emerged as the dominant force in Europe , with many of the best players and managers migrating to England.
The former England international also believes the Premier League's traditional rivals including Spain's LaLiga and Italy's Serie A have suffered significant losses in recent years.
Romelu Lukaku (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo departed Italy for a return to England this summer
Lionel Messi traded LaLiga with Barcelona for France and Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain
'I think the Premier League is so far ahead of everyone else and getting stronger. I think we've been ahead for a few years anyway.
'Now all of a sudden we have taken the Italian league's best two players in [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Romelu] Lukaku coming over.
'[Lionel] Messi has gone to a weaker league, so the Spanish league is getting weaker and weaker, and I can never really take the French league as seriously as maybe I should. We are taking the best managers as well.'
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