Rio Ferdinand rates Liverpool's top 5 strikers and says one 'gives you sleepless nights'

Rio Ferdinand has had his say on Liverpool's strike-force over the years, admitting one particular individual used to give the ex-Manchester United star sleepless nights.

In recent years the likes of Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres have terrorised defences at Anfield.

Torres netted a staggering 81 goals in all competitions for Liverpool and gave Ferdinand and his United centre-back partner Nemanja Vidic a headache on more than one occasion.

Suarez quite literally went one better than Torres, netting 82 goals in all competitions for the Reds before his high-profile switch to Barcelona, where he won countless trophies.

Salah, meanwhile, has improved on both of Torres and Suarez's tallies, finding the back of the net 152 times - and counting - for Liverpool.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Who is Liverpool's best striker of the past 20 years? Comment below

Rio Ferdinand has had his say on Liverpool's strike-force over the years (BT Sport)

Before this particular trio, Liverpool boasted the likes of Robbie Fowler, who remains the club's top scorer in the Premier League era with 183 goals to his name.

And, of course, a Ballon d'Or winner who used to keep Ferdinand up at night, Michael Owen.

"People forget what he [Owen] was doing during those times [while at Liverpool]," said the ex-Man United star on his Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE YouTube channel.

"He was dismantling the Premier League as a teenager. He was a joke. People need to start putting some respect on his name."

Ferdinand added: "If you're talking about their best year or two years at the club, Michael Owen is in the conversation for the best.

"A defender playing against all of them, Michael Owen keeps you up later than any of the others. I played against Torres, played against Fowler. I've not played against prime Salah, that's the difference.

Michael Owen found the back of the net 158 times for Liverpool (Reuters)

"If we're talking number nines, Suarez was a top player and a great player but I just think in Michael Owen's best season or two he'd give you more sleepless nights than all of the others."

Owen found the back of the net 158 times for Liverpool, but injuries and subsequent transfers - one particular switch to Man United - means he's not as revered at Anfield as some of the other names discussed.