Owen climbs to top of Anfield pay ladder

Liverpool experienced a day of contrasting fortunes yesterday, with their talismanic striker Michael Owen officially putting pen to paper on a new contract at Anfield, a move which may have gone some way to soothing the club's earlier disappointment at being charged by the Premier League with making an illegal approach for Middlesbrough's Christian Ziege last year.

The 21-year-old England international has signed a new four-year deal, which will make him the highest-paid player in Liverpool's history. He is reputed to be earning between £60,000 and £80,000 a week. The deal ends lingering speculation linking him with the continent, although the player always insisted there was never any danger of him not signing.

"It has never been a thought in my mind about playing for any other club than Liverpool, and I'm obviously delighted to have signed," he said. "I am only 21 and yet this is my fourth professional contract I have signed with the club. They have always been incredibly fair by reviewing contracts early, and this is one of the many reasons there is such loyalty at Liverpool."

Owen, whose latest hamstring injury came on Saturday against Tottenham at Anfield, has 18 months of his current deal to run. He added: "After the great end to last season, the whole squad is determined to bring more silverware back to Merseyside and I want to play my part in giving our fantastic supporters even more to shout about."

Liverpool's manager Gérard Houllier said: "Michael is obviously going to be a key figure for us in the future and, with so many other young players here, this is a side that is going to get better and better."

Owen will be almost 26 when the contract runs out, and whether he can be persuaded to sign another one, at a crucial time in his career, will depend a lot on what Liverpool now achieve at Champions' League and Premiership level.

Houllier added: "This is marvellous for the club and the fans. Michael has repeatedly said he wanted to stay at Liverpool and the fact that he's put pen to paper demonstrates his belief in what we are building here and the vision we have for the club. We all know what he's capable of producing and after our success last season, he's hungry for further honours."

Earlier in the day the Premier League confirmed it was charging Liverpool with making an illegal approach to Ziege while he was at Middlesbrough at the start of last season.

Should they be found guilty, the club are likely to be fined or ordered to pay compensation, although a points deduction is technically within the League's powers. Ziege has also been charged and similarly, the German defender will not face suspension as that would penalise his current club, Tottenham, who are innocent parties in the affair. He too would be fined if found guilty.

The charges follow a 10-month investigation into allegations made by Middlesbrough about an illegal approach, and are an embarrassment to Liverpool and Houllier, who last year described the Teesside club's claims as "laughable".

The Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb welcomed the decision to charge Liverpool and Ziege. "We are pleased that, after a very, very thorough and detailed investigation, the Premier League and its legal advisors share the same view as Middlesbrough FC that there was a serious breach of league regulations prior to the enforced transfer of Christian Ziege to Liverpool," he said. "Hopefully, these investigations will unearth the true facts and those responsible will be dealt with by the football authorities."

Liverpool have put the matter into the hands of legal experts and would not comment beyond a spokesman saying: "As far as we understand, Liverpool have not been found guilty of anything."

The Czech Republic international Milan Baros hopes to complete his transfer to Liverpool by Christmas. The club agreed to sign the midfielder from Banik Ostrava in July but have been waiting for a work permit.

Southampton, are facing a struggle in their attempt to sign Parma's Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma on loan after Liverpool made a late move for his signature.

The Middlesbrough captain, Paul Ince, wants to finish his playing career in Italy after the club refused to give the former Liverpool midfielder a new contract at the end of the season.