RIO FERDINAND disagreed after Michael Owen called Liverpool “the most fearsome team in Europe”.
Owen watched in Paris as his former side were beaten in the Champions League final by Real Madrid.
Rio Ferdinand in debate with Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen Credit: Getty It came only a week after they were pipped to the Premier League on the final day by Manchester City.
But even after 1-0 loss to Real, BT Sport pundit Owen said: “I still think they’re the best team in Europe, I really do.
“On other occasions they’d be getting their name etched in the trophy.”
But Ferdinand told his former England team-mate: “How can you say they’re the best team in Europe?
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F1 Monaco Grand Prix – free bets, best offers, preview and tips “They’ve just lost the league and the Champions League final.”
Owen, 42, replied: “The season they’ve had, I still think they’re the team to beat.
“Real Madrid have got past them today, but you know as well as anyone that a one-off game is a one-off game.
“I still think they’re the most fearsome team in Europe and they’ve not got any of the big two trophies to show for it, that’ll be the biggest pill to swallow.”
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Ferdinand, 43, responded: “I don’t think they’re the best team in Europe, I think you’ve got to win the biggest trophies to be considered the best.
“They’re an unbelievably exciting team, the points tally they’ve got in the league, the consistency in which they’ve played, they’ve competed in every single game available to them, but you’ve got to get your hands on the big trophies to be called outright the best team in Europe.
“I don’t think they’ll be considered that and it would be disrespectful to Real Madrid to say that.
“They’ve just beaten all our top three teams in our league, they’ve got rid of them and got their hands on that trophy.
“Finally the argument is over for the Ballon d’Or. If Karim Benzema doesn’t get the Ballon d’Or along with this trophy it’ll be a travesty.”
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen playing for England in 2007 Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Virgil van Dijk is consoled after the defeat Credit: Getty Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
