As Michael Owen closes in on his century of Liverpool goals, Phil Thompson has a warning for world football: "He will get better and better." And the club's assistant boss believes that he could even become Liverpool's greatest ever striker.

To do that Owen would have to overtake Ian Rush's 346 goals for the club, but Thompson reckons it is within Owen's capabilities.

Next in the firing line are Fulham, as Premiership leaders Liverpool bid to extend their lead to six points - and 14 over defending champions Manchester United.

Owen's current run is astonishing and rightly frightens every defence in the land. He's netted 25 in his last 24 Liverpool games and 20 in his last 21 for club and country.

One more will make him only Liverpool's 15th centurion. Thompson said: "The frightening thing is that the boy can get even better. He's young, he's already experienced and there is a lot more to come from him.

"He needs to keep working but then you know that's what you are going to get from him because he's so level-headed."

Asked if he can become the best Liverpool have had, Thompson added: "Hopefully he can. But there's been some fantastic names, some fantastic strikers at this club and Michael shouldn't have to emulate anybody.

"He's a top striker in his own right and he's worked very hard to get where he is. He has got things that other players certainly didn't have.

"He'd certainly like some of the attributes that previous top Liverpool strikers have had.

"As star status goes, as a world renowned player, he has done very well for himself in his own right."

Thompson, though, tried to lift the pressure on Owen to clinch his ton against Fulham. "It doesn't matter when it comes. It will happen and I won't be worried until then and neither will Michael. I know, and Michael knows, sooner or later the goals will dry up, it's always the same for any striker and he knows that he will have difficult times.

"But it is how he reacts to that situation that will be the key to his progress."

Thompson added: "Michael has so much more to his make-up than just pace.

"He showed that by scoring from almost 30 yards on Saturday. He can score with his head, both feet, tap-ins and now long-range."