Houllier dismisses transfer talk

The Reds were linked with a whole host of stars before the signing of Australian midfielder Harry Kewell finally brought an end to most, if not all, of the rumours concerning arrivals and departures at Anfield.

Such talk, of course, can be unsettling for players, but the Liverpool manager is happy to discuss his transfer dealings openly with his team.

Houllier said: "We deal with the players very up front and straight forward and I always tell them whether something is true or not.

"It's funny as you wake up every morning and read the papers linking us to different players, and half of them I haven't even heard of!

"We have a squad that is mature enough now to understand that and it doesn't upset us."