Under-fire Houllier calls for more time

While the Frenchman is still remembered for his now infamous five-year-plan in which he hoped to bring an unprecedented nineteenth league championship to Liverpool, he has revealed that he should be given until the end of next season to finally deliver upon his promise.

In the summer of 1999 I said I needed to rebuild, and that I would need a minimum of five years to win the league," insisted Houllier.

"After four years we have made big steps forward. We have won six trophies, both at home and in Europe, played in the Champions League twice and reached the quarter-finals, and have progressed in the Premiership.

"That our progress has levelled out slightly does not surprise me. But we have everything in place and now we have to get past this watershed and take the required steps.

"I think we can win the league in the time I predicted in 1999, so long as another Roman Abramovich doesn't come along at another rival club - and I think Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are as concerned as I am about things like that."

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