Owen: Batigol is my world beater

Owen revealed that he had recently been watching the Italian League on television and was confronted by a vision of Roma danger man Batistuta at his lethal best. Ghosting in from the right of the Bologna area, the Argentine took a pass from Emerson in his stride before rifling a left-footed drive into the bottom corner to seal a 3-1 Roma win.

Owen said: 'I saw his goal against Bologna on TV and it was a prime example of what he is all about. It might have looked a fairly simple, routine effort at first glance, but it said everything about how he can punish the best defences. It was a good ball to him, but the thing that struck me about it was Batistuta ' s movement. He makes such clever runs that it has the effect of making up the mind of the player with the ball.

'That is what happened in this game. Batistuta set off and made it easy for his team-mate to know exactly where and when to play the ball.'

Owen, 21, has happy memories of the spectacular Olympic Stadium, having scored twice in Liverpool's 2-0 UEFA Cup first leg success last season which sparked a rich vein of form for the England forward.

Roma, who managed a draw at Galatasaray in their opening Group B match, will have to rely on Batistuta even more than usual if an ankle injury to Francesco Totti keeps him out of tonight's game. The Italy striker, 25, has been forced to watch training from the sidelines after picking up the injury in training on Monday.

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has singled out Totti as the man most likely to cause danger to Liverpool.

Eriksson, who watched Totti's progress from across Rome during his time in charge of Lazio, believes Roma's golden boy would make the ideal strike partner for Owen at club level. Asked to choose between the pair, the Swede's answer was devastatingly simple.

He said: 'Why can't you have both together? Any coach in the world would pay whatever it takes to have both of them in his squad.

'They have similar technical qualities but they are different enough to complement each other. Owen is quicker, cooler in front of goal, more of an outright attacker. Totti is more powerful, more imaginative.'

And tonight's match? 'Both teams will inspire fear in each other because of their respective organisation,' said Eriksson. 'Roma on their own territory are like a tank, while Liverpool away from home know how to close down the opposition and produce clinical counterattacks. A forecast? Not on your life.'

Liverpool's preparations were overshadowed by a further setback for Markus Babbel, who has returned to Germany for treatment to a new illness that has potentially serious repercussions.

After launching his comeback from a debilitating virus, the Germany defender was struck down by a condition known as Guillan-Barre syndrome, which inflames the nerves and can cause paralysis.

It can even be life-threatening, but Liverpool are confident it has been diagnosed early enough for the 29-year-old to make a full recovery, even though he is unlikely to play again this season.

Anfield caretaker manager Phil Thompson said: 'Markus has had a reaction to the virus and will be out for at least another three months. It is a big blow for him, and for the team as well because he is such a valuable member of our defence. We can only monitor the situation and hope he is back again as soon as possible.'

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