Owen sends warning to United

Speaking on the eve of tonight's Champions League qualifier with FC Haka, Owen said: 'There is going to be something riding on every game this season, but that will suit us after the way we dealt with the pressure at the end of last season.

'I remember we all sat down together with 12 games to go and looked at what was still on offer.

'We all agreed that if we could win 10 or 11 of them and draw the other, we could end up with three cups and a Champions League place.

'It was a tall order but we did it. We showed that when something is up for grabs, we can go out and get it. It was nice to see we could perform when the heat was on and it proved a point.

'We proved to ourselves last season that we can beat anyone. We beat Manchester United twice and overcame Barcelona and Roma over two legs. You are talking about three of the best teams in the world, let alone Europe, so that speaks for itself.

'It has all had a beneficial effect on us mentally. Suddenly you are not worried about going to Barcelona, Roma or wherever, because you know you can get a good result.'

For all the camaraderie in the Liverpool squad, Owen concedes he is on a personal mission against Haka as, at 21, he bids to reach another milestone in his spectacular career.

He added: 'The UEFA Cup was a big competition last season and we had to get past tough teams to win it. But I must admit I would rather have been jetting off to face opponentsin the Champions League and I don't want to miss out this time.

'A year ago we all wrote down our ambitions for the season and the overwhelming target was to finish in the top three and give ourselves a chance of Champions League football. That is what I wrote on my piece of paper and now we are so close there must not be any slip-up.'

Owen is expected to start ahead of Robbie Fowler alongside Emile Heskey, while Steven Gerrard should be fit. Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld and midfielders Vladimir Smicer and Jamie Redknapp are ruled out.

Liverpool yesterday completed a £3.2million deal for Banik Ostrava forward Milan Baros.

Baros, 19, has signed a five-year contract but he will play at home in the Czech Republic until he receives a work permit.

He has made only two appearances for his country and his lack of senior international experience means he may not be able to move to Merseyside until later in the year.

Baros, who will join Czech teammates Patrik Berger and Smicer at Anfield, said: 'I'm glad that a club from England wants me, especially one as famous as Liverpool.'

Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez says he will be fit to face Liverpool in Sunday's Charity Shield clash at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, despite suffering from a skin condition that is affecting his hands.