Liverpool's title defence has been nothing short of a disaster, and former Reds striker Michael Owen is finding it difficult to identify silver linings from a campaign that promised so much yet delivered so little.

Arne Slot's side entered the season as reigning champions, having claimed a record-equalling 20th English title last term, but a catastrophic autumn collapse effectively ended their title hopes before winter. The campaign has been defined by a mounting injury list, reported tensions between the manager and key players, and Mohamed Salah's public declaration of his intention to leave at the end of the season.

Owen's verdict: the positives are also the negatives

Despite the gloom, Owen — speaking to FourFourTwo on behalf of bet Champions League — offered a characteristically honest assessment, framing Liverpool's injury crisis as the one thing that could paradoxically be viewed as a future positive.