It could be a summer of change at Anfield and former Red Michael Owen believes his old club should target two rival players
12:37, 18 Mar 2025
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Darwin Nunez of Liverpool reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at Gtech Community Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Brentford, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Michael Owen believes the time could be right for a shakeup of Liverpool's forward options(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
Michael Owen has told Liverpool to axe Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez if they can bring in two Premier League stars to replace them.
32-year-old Salah is out of contract at Anfield in the summer but the Egyptian is enjoying a sensational season with the Reds on track to lift the Premier League title - netting 32 times in 43 games. Whilst Nunez is continuing to struggle for form, and missed a shootout penalty as Arne Slot's men were dumped out of the Champions League by PSG.
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And Owen, who scored 158 goals in 297 games as a Liverpool player, believes he's identified the heir to Salah's crown, as he urged boss Slot to go all-out for Newcastle United hero Alexander Isak and Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo.
Speaking to OLBG.com, Owen said: "If he (Salah) was to go, Liverpool would look to replace him or find another attacking player, because I think Darwin Nunez will probably go as well.
“So, if Mo Salah was to go, that's two attacking players and they would definitely need to replace that with one or two.
“There's lots of alternatives out there but no one can replace Mo Salah. But there's no one out there that is gonna get his numbers.
“There's been a few rumours lately about different players; Alexander Isak, obviously, at Newcastle who scored against them the other day, that would just be an incredible move if Liverpool could get him, but I'm sure virtually every team wants him and I'm sure Newcastle are desperate to keep hold of him, so that would be an interesting one.
Alexander Isak of Newcastle United (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring Newcastle's second goal during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025
Owen wants to see Newcastle hero Alexander Isak in red(Image: Getty Images)
“I like Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth, who plays in the same position as Salah. I like him, a younger version, but definitely got energy, scoring capabilities and a good player.
“That being said, you can't replace Mo Salah. I mean if you said Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez went and Alexander Isak and Antoine Semenyo came then I don't think it's the worst swap in the world if we're playing fantasy football here.
"But realistically Liverpool want to keep hold of their best players and Mo Salah is their best player so hopefully he doesn't leave."
Owen is one of a select group of players to have featured for both Liverpool and Manchester United, and issued a withering verdict of the Red Devils' current attacking options - with Ruben Amorim's side mired in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
He continued: "I think a Michael Owen in his worst years would be the best striker for Manchester United at the moment if I'm honest.
"You look at the last few players that have left Manchester United, Antony's doing particularly well out in Spain.
“Rashford's doing particularly well, or let's say much better than he was at Manchester United, at Aston Villa. Scott McTominay is doing incredibly well at Napoli and Italy, Anthony Elanga is doing incredibly well at Nottingham Forest compared to when he was at Manchester United.
“This isn't just, one or two are doing well and one or two are doing bad. Every single person that leaves Manchester United does better and that is the problem and that has happened for years and years and years.
Michael Owen of Manchester United celebrates scoring the winning goal in injury time during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 20, 2009 in Manchester, England
Owen spent a surprise spell at Manchester United late in his career(Image: Getty Images)
“On the flip side, every good player that they sign, everybody thinks, ‘wow, that's an amazing signing’, but they tend to do poorly.
"That's just where Manchester United are at at the moment, isn't it? It's not like, ‘let's look at Rashford or let's look at someone individually’, that's what Manchester United are.
“I said before, you could probably sign Messi tomorrow and he wouldn't look like the best player in the world given six months.
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“It's just, when things are not going well, it's hard to do it and when things are going great, every signing that you make just fits in.
“It's so easy, but it's so hard at Manchester United at the moment and that's why everyone leaves and does well and everyone signs and does rubbish”.