Board's loyalty will pay off

With Houllier expected to leave today or tomorrow the board will look to appoint his successor from the many names who have been linked with the job. It is down to the board themselves that there is such an interest in the job.

Liverpool have a history of backing their manager; Gerard Houllier, along with Roy Evans and Graeme Souness before him, was given longer time in the job than he would have received at other clubs.

Porto boss Jose Mourinho is expected to join Chelsea in the summer yet his preferred destination is Anfield because he knows he will have time in the job to build his side- time he would not get under Abramovitch at Chelsea.

Valencia boss Rafael Benitez has just won a double of La Liga and UEFA cup but would like to come to Anfield for the challenge and also because he would be working for a chairman who will give him the funds and also the time to turn Liverpool into champions.