Alex Ferguson believes former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has it in him to heap fresh misery upon the Reds when he returns to Anfield with Manchester United on Sunday.

The 29-year-old made his name on Merseyside by scoring 158 goals for Liverpool. Owen’s transfer to their fiercest rivals will not sit well with Liverpool fans and their mood is unlikely to be improved if their one-time hero condemns Rafael Benitez’s side to a fifth straight defeat.

The England forward struck a dramatic derby winner against Manchester City last month and Ferguson said that if he repeated the trick against Liverpool, Owen’s place in United folklore would be secure. “That will never be forgotten,” Ferguson said. “I don’t know if it puts him in the history books but it will certainly never be forgotten.

For injury-stricken Liverpool, Steven Gerrard will have until the last minute to prove his fitness. Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are both expected to make it.