Chelsea, Real Madrid watch as Owen refuses to commit to Liverpool

Liverpool striker Michael Owen gave no assurances that he would follow Steven Gerrard's lead and sign a new contract.

With Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea hovering, Owen told the Guardian: "I don't want to be just a normal professional."

"I aim to reach the top and, to do that, you have to play well against the best teams in the world."

"It's impossible to say about my future at Liverpool. If they were winning the league every year there would not be any decision to make about playing abroad."

"There is no problem now. In an ideal situation Liverpool would do really well this season and challenge for the league. I really need to be playing in the Champions League and that is something we have to remedy."