Alan Hansen's column

By Alan Hansen BBC Sport football expert

Michael Owen makes his return to Liverpool with Newcastle on Boxing Day - and he will be guaranteed an unbelieveable reception from the Anfield crowd.

Preview: Liverpool v Newcastle

Owen was a great player for Liverpool, a man who single-handedly won the 2001 FA Cup Final against Arsenal with two late goals after Gerard Houllier's side had been second best all day.

Once a richly-deserved rapturous reception is out of the way, however, it will be down to business and a vital game for both Newcastle and Liverpool.

Newcastle, of course, beat Liverpool in the race to sign Owen after the player looked destined for a return to Anfield after being made available by Real Madrid.

As a Liverpool fan I would have loved to have seen Michael back, but equally I fully understood Liverpool's reasoning of not wanting to pay £17m for a player they had sold for £8m only 12 months earlier.

This debate is, as far as I'm concerned, in the past now because Newcastle have got themselves an outstanding match-winner - while Rafael Benitez has gone down another route and turned Liverpool into a much-improved side.

Owen, quite simply, is world-class. Look at every step of his career and he has scored goals - Liverpool, England, Real Madrid and now Newcastle, where his very presence makes them a completely different side.

It is noticeable that no-one has ever labelled Owen as a flop from his time in Madrid. This is because he was a big success, and only returned to England because of the rather unique politics in play at The Bernabeu.

Michael will score goals anywhere, any time, and is a scorer of match-winning goals.

And even when he went through the occasional barren spell, you simply put more money on him as first goalscorer because you knew it was inevitable he would soon be on target again.

Owen was a great player for Liverpool and he is assured of an unbelieveable Anfield reception

He is a brilliant acquisition for Newcastle, but Liverpool have done exceptionally well without him also.

Peter Crouch was criticised initially, but he has hit the target now and is fitting in very well. He was clearly a key element of Benitez's rebuilding, and as I said recently the Liverpool manager has now got a very good blend between attack and defence.

Liverpool are starting to look a class side again. I said before the start of the season that their goal was to try and find their way into the top three again, and they are certainly on course to do that, and maybe even quicker than I thought.

They are in a great position in the league, and while Chelsea look all-conquering, all Liverpool can do is win their games and put themselves in a healthy position.

Liverpool will be keen to show there is no hangover from their Club World Championship trip to Japan, which ended in a very unfortunate defeat against Sao Paolo.

They face two difficult games, firstly against Newcastle and then the derby against Everton at Goodison Park.

Newcastle's season has been a real stop-start affair, but results prove they are an entirely different proposition with Owen in the side.

They have had great wins against Arsenal and West Ham since he returned after a groin injury and they will go to Anfield with renewed confidence.

If they can come through Christmas and New Year with eight points, they will feel it is a job well done and that they can push on towards a European place.

Liverpool fans know what a class act Owen is - they will just be hoping he doesn't show them exactly how good he is on Boxing Day.