Houllier hits back at critics

The Frenchman has watched on with a mixture of fury and disbelief as various fugures from Liverpool's rich past have saw fit to doubt his managerial acumen in the frenzied build-up to an ultimately successful Merseyside derby.

"This is why sometimes I am a bit angry with former players - Shankly and Paisley would have been absolutely appalled by the fact that some former players have had a go at us," admitted a perplexed Houllier.

"They seem to forget that sometimes they missed games or they didn't play well or got the result they didn't deserve or were out of condition - it happens."

The guts and dignity of Gerard Houllier