Owen's Liverpool threat

Michael Owen cast fresh doubts over his future yesterday by threatening to quit Liverpool unless they regain a place in the Champions League.

On the day Steven Gerrard signed a four-year deal, Owen made it clear Liverpool will have to match his ambitions before he considers staying.

'It is impossible to say about my future at Liverpool,' he said.

' If they are winning the League every year, there will not be any decision to make about playing abroad.

'There is no problem now and, in an ideal situation, Liverpool will do really well this season and challenge for the League. But I really need to be playing in the Champions League and that is something we have to remedy.'

Owen, who was talking to Shoot magazine, has 18 months left on his contract and has resisted all efforts so far to tie him to a new long-term agreement.

If he maintains his stance, Liverpool will consider offers for him at the end of the season rather than let him run down his contract and leave on a Bosman free transfer.