What the Sunday papers say...

Last updated : 11 January 2004 By Gary Purvis
Houllier thrives on the rebound

It is probably too soon for Gérard Houllier to relax, but the hounds who were baying in pursuit of the Liverpool manager are losing the scent. A month ago everyone expected him to lose his job this summer; now who knows? It will probably depend on Martin O'Neill. Certainly Houllier's season is looking a lot brighter than it was when his team were booed off Anfield on 13 December. Liverpool's minimum requirement this May is a place in the Champions' League and that is looking attainable. Win their game in hand and they will be in fourth place, which is not bad for a team supposedly in crisis. This victory, secured by the fortuitous rebound off Villa's Mark Delaney, means they have won three games in a week, secured 10 of their last 12 Premiership points and with matches against Tottenham, Wolves, Manchester City and Portsmouth on the horizon they have an excellent chance of renovating a season that looked to be crumbling. Even Michael Owen, missing for six weeks, made it through 72 minutes without adding to his catalogue of injuries.
Guy Hodgson, Independent on Sunday

Villa frustrated by fluke
Liverpool won this battle of improving teams with the jammiest of goals, but just about deserved the three points. The win keeps the Merseysiders within reach of the fourth place in the Premiership they covet and ends the five-match unbeaten run that had taken Villa out of the bottom three and as high as sixth. Even so, the Birmingham club can take heart from another spirited performance. Who scored Liverpool's winning goal was still a mystery at the final whistle. Opinion was split between Danny Murphy and Villa defender Mark Delaney. Even those who had studied the television replays closely said they could not be sure. All one could say for sure was that El Hadji Diouf had an outstanding game.
Colin Malam, Sunday Telegraph

Delaney helps Reds cause
A 1-0 victory, which may not have matched the import or impact of the midweek win at Chelsea by the same scoreline, kept Liverpool heading in the right direction in the increasingly unpredictable contest for fourth place and an invitation to Champions League football next season. It is a sign of lowered expectations at Anfield that such a goal is now acceptable, thoughts of league titles apparently consigned to the history books, but at the end of a week in which Gérard Houllier's long-term employment was again questioned, three points were needed and duly delivered. Those two victories should not detract from the problems at Liverpool, or the gulf between them and the division's three leading clubs at present. But given the patent mediocrity of the clubs outside those places this season, Liverpool have as good a chance as any of claiming that fourth spot. Certainly, even allowing for the fickle nature of football supporters, this morning's league table will in no way silence those shareholders who voiced their concerns about Houllier at Monday's annual general meeting. But the manner of Liverpool's goal yesterday may suggest that that most valuable of sporting allies, lady luck, is at least on the beleaguered Frenchman's side.
Ian Whittell, Observer

Nervy Liverpool go back to basics
Crisis averted — for the time being. A good news, bad news week for Liverpool, which started with a turbulent shareholders’ meeting and talk of the chairman’s resignation, ended with a second victory in four days to rekindle hopes of a Champions League place. As at Chelsea in midweek, Liverpool did not play anywhere near as well as they can, but they did just enough thanks to a scruffy own goal by Mark Delaney. Their build-up play deserved more than that, but their final pass and finishing left much to be desired. Harry Kewell was particularly culpable, spurning three clear-cut chances.
Joe Lovejoy, Sunday Times