Manchester United striker Michael Owen has admitted that he is "not particularly surprised" to see Liverpool's poor run of form this season. Just two years ago the Reds were traditional heavyweights on the European stage, but failed to qualify for the Champions League last season while tottering in a mid-table position this term.

The 31-year-old was one of the Merseyside club's star strikers before spells at Real Madrid and Newcastle United, but eventually ended up joining fierce rivals Manchester United in 2009. "I am not particularly surprised [by Liverpool's downfall]," Owen told United Review. "I would say their position reflects where they are right now.

"They are in the middle of a transitional period and off the pitch they have had a change of ownership. "They are also very reliant on a couple of star players and if they are out injured, they have tended to struggle."

The former Newcastle frontman believes that there is no single reason that can be pinpointed as the cause behind the club's fall from grace, but conceded that it comes as a confluence of several problems behind the scenes. "Throughout all those successful years Liverpool built their foundation on passing and moving," Owen told ITV.

"But, from when I was there, everything has changed, barring two players. They even got rid of the doctors and the medical staff. "Maybe there have not been enough Liverpool players over the last 10 years. "If there was just one reason, then it would have been fixed. But there have been so many."