Owen wants no rest

Houllier has revealed he plans to rest some of his top stars at some point during a busy season after leaving Steven Gerrard out of the starting line-up for Wednesday's Uefa Cup first round tie at Olimpija Ljubljana.

Owen was also close to being left out of the clash, but the prolific marksman was determined to play and maintain his good form.

"We have some important games coming up and I know the gaffer wanted to rest a few players, which is understandable," said Owen.

"Maybe I had to convince him a little, but I'm not going to tell you what I said about the idea of not playing in this one!

"I desperately wanted to play. I'm feeling fit and strong, and, when I get into a rhythm of playing, I want to carry on.

"I want to rest when I have finished my career, not during it."

Owen, who scored Liverpool's equaliser against Olimpija to break Ian Rush's European goalscoring record, admitted he was delighted to beat the Anfield legend's landmark.

"It's great to beat the record of an Anfield legend like Ian Rush," said Owen. "When I was a kid he was always one of my idols.

"I work with him now, and in training, he's a great influence on me - he's always urging me to go out and beat his records, and I know that he'll be the first one to be happy for me to break his records.

"He's got plenty more records in the books, and I know I'll have to go some to beat those."