Michael Owen has conceded the arrival of El Hadji Diouf at Liverpool disrupted his flourishing partnership in attack alongside Emile Heskey.
Diouf was signed by the Reds on the back of the 2002 World Cup, in which he helped Senegal reach the quarter-final of the tournament and was named African Player of the Year the same year. The striker failed to live up to expectations at Anfield, however, scoring just six times in 80 appearances for the club before exiting in 2005.
Heskey and Owen had scored a combined 42 goals the season prior to Diouf's debut campaign in England and had developed a strong understanding within the final third, which soon came under threat as competition for places increased.
