BRENDAN RODGERS has refused to rule out a sensational Anfield comeback for free agent Michael Owen – if the Reds can meet the player’s wage demands.

Left with just two senior strikers on his books following Friday’s traumatic transfer window, the Reds boss was asked if he would consider a move for the out of contract 32-year-old.

“Any player that I believe can improve the squad, I will look at,” he declared. “There’s absolutely no question.

“As I said we have a very, very small group. We had 19 players training yesterday morning and obviously there’s some very young players in amongst that so I can’t say no.

“I always have to look and see where we can improve the group.”

When it was pointed out that Owen’s wages may be prohibitive, given the club’s refusal to sanction a £6m deal for Clint Dempsey on Friday, he added: “That’s something which would have to be discussed.”

Owen ended his spectacular Anfield career eight years ago when he quit for Real Madrid, after 158 goals in 297 appearances.

Reds fans were dismayed by his decision, and Owen moved even further from fans’ affections when he signed for arch rivals Manchester United.

But Liverpool’s lack of striking options means that it is now a switch Rodgers may have to consider.

Asked also about a possible swoop for Didier Drogba, currently playing in China and again commanding hefty wages, he added: “I’d probably need to ask the question on that.”

Despite a disappointing result which left the Reds with just one point from their opening three Premier League games, the Anfield boss saw reasons for optimism after yesterday’s 2-0 reverse.

“First and foremost we’re disappointed with the result,” he said.

“We’re here to win games and in the first half we controlled a lot of the game but we were too loose at the top end of the field.

“We gave the ball away and there was no platform to build on the good work and we were disappointed with the goal we gave away.

“Obviously we’re chasing the game then and we could have done better with the second goal too.

“By the end the players were a wee bit tired. This is the third game for a lot of them in a week and they’ve given everything into the game.

“But there was certainly a lot of good to come from the game but we lost.

“We created enough chances in and around the box but we have got to be ruthless. That’s the reality of where we are. Some of our build up play is very good. We’re arriving into the final third well and it’s just finding that bit of quality at the top end of the field. The goals that we conceded have nothing to do with styles or nothing to do with systems or the tactical element of the game. We gave the ball away and didn’t recover well enough to stop the shot.

“For the second goal we had enough bodies behind the ball to defend the goal and we created enough chances. We weren’t clinical enough.

“But I have an inherent belief in this way of working and I’ve had success with it and over time here that will be the same.

“These are the hard yards you have to put in early on and take the flak for. But like I say I wouldn’t change it for anything.”