WE MAY BE CRAP BUT LIVERPOOL ARE CRAPPIER

Last updated : 18 November 2002 By editor

Gerard Houllier defends his team from the boring tag:

"If you say Liverpool are boring, look at the stats," Houllier said. "We are the second team behind Man Utd in terms of shots on goal. We tried everything today: the long-range shots, the crosses, the cut-backs. The outcome of the game is probably as frustrating as when we played Basle here in the Champions League.

"Today we had 21 attempts on goal and they had none. That means our defending was good. At times the passing and movement in the first half was brilliant. I feel sorry for the players when they put so much effort in. We showed today that we'd overcome the disappointment in midweek. Sunderland rode their luck. They defended in an heroic way. I'm sure their goalkeeper has nine lives."

Terry Venables could be back beside Des Lynam by the end of this week if rumours emanating from Yorkshire are to be believed.

‘AS THEY LOOKED TOWARDS EACH other on the final whistle, the same question doubtless crossed the minds of Terry Venables and the home supporters: Why? A full-time career in television must appeal more and more to the manager with each week that passes, while regulars at Elland Road are growing convinced that the club would be better directed with an alternative at the helm.

Chants of "Venables out" rang around the ground after a shocking defeat, the fifth at home of the season, to the side previously bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership. Victories in the previous two fixtures had been banished from the memory of this vocal element. With pressure, too, on Peter Ridsdale to step down as chairman the club faces an anxious few weeks.

"We thought maybe after those wins we had turned the corner, but now we are back to square one," Venables said, an assessment that will do nothing to rekindle optimism. "I didn’t think we lacked confidence, and we looked dangerous at times, but defensively we were not good enough." He did not hide behind a string of injuries and the suspension to Lee Bowyer, which enabled him to field only four or five of his first-choice team.'

Peter Ridsdale is seeking re-election as a director at the end of the month and may decide that Venables is sacrificed to preserve his own position.