Owen Speaks Up For De Gea

Michael Owen has backed David De Gea in the wake of Manchester United's FA Cup exit at Anfield and is confident the 22-year-old will become "a top keeper".

The Spanish stopper, recalled for the outing against Liverpool after sitting out the Reds' previous four matches, came under fire from some quarters for his performance and, in particular, his role in the game's opening goal.

When Steven Gerrard floated in a corner from the left touchline, De Gea came to claim the ball but couldn't fight his way past the imposing figure of Andy Carroll. Liverpool defender Daniel Agger rose – almost unchallenged despite the presence of four United defenders in close proximity – to nod into the net, with the ball skimming off De Gea's head on the way in.

Former United midfielder Roy Keane, working at the game as a pundit for ITV, was one of many to lay the blame for the goal at De Gea's feet. His advice to the goalkeeper: "You've got to make your presence felt and go and nail somebody."

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson saw the incident differently, claiming his defenders created the problem. "They didn't give him [De Gea] enough room to deal with it."

It's an opinion Michael Owen shared on Twitter on Sunday.

"The ball was on the six-yard box for the first goal," he wrote. "[David] has to go for it. He also needs to watch the flight of the ball. There are then six players in front of him.

"There is nothing he could do. The free header was the problem, not the keeper.

"The problem is, once you get labelled, mud sticks and now any tiny mistake is magnified. Other goalkeepers make similar mistakes and nothing gets said.

"Admittedly, [David] has made a couple of mistakes this season but listening to some people you would think he had a nightmare [at Anfield].

"I'm not having either goal was his fault. He couldn't do much with the second goal either. Is the problem not just a case of us not winning the first ball and not picking up a runner? In my opinion [they were] two bad goals to give away but to blame everything on the goalkeeper is totally wrong.

"The lad will be a top keeper, he is only young. It's harsh to blame him for everything."

Owen was also quick to praise the United fans who have stood by the young goalkeeper this season and urged fans to continue to show support to the Spaniard.

"I've watched a lot of home games this season and the support from behind both goals for him has been brilliant. The fans know he needs their support, his confidence needs boosting. I'm sure he will repay that support for years to come."