Good old Ged, nice to see he's well.
EXCLUSIVE: This can be Reds' year! Gerard Houllier talks up Liverpool title chances
OLD HABITS die hard for Gerard Houllier. He is reeling off Liverpool’s looming fixture list with the same zeal as when he was in the manager’s seat, studying the form and trying to work out the points the Class of 2014 will accrue over the coming weeks.
By: Paul Joyce
Published: Fri, February 28, 2014
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier believes Liverpool have what it takes to win the title [GETTY]
“This year they can do it,” said Houllier. “If you look at some of the games, they have Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham at home and the way they are playing at Anfield they will be confident. Sunderland and Newcastle too.
“The games away, apart from Manchester United which is always difficult, are all winnable. You can tell I have been checking!
“I’m not putting pressure on them, but they have a good chance. Anyone in the top four can win the title.”
Houllier talks excitedly about Liverpool’s future in between remembering the past; rewinding 12 years to when, newly returned to the dug-out following the heart problem that almost cost him his life, he was immediately embroiled in a title race and looking to end the club’s yearning for championship success.
That the wait goes on reveals they came up short, though sometimes the soul-searching need only focus on the quality of the opposition.
With four games remaining of the 2001-02 campaign, Liverpool beat Derby 2-0 on the day Michael Owen was presented with the Ballon D’or and moved to 74 points. United had 73 and Arsenal 72, although they boasted two games in hand.
When Liverpool lost 1-0 at Tottenham a few weeks later, it sounded the death knell to their hopes. Arsenal, who won their last 13 games and incredibly won 18 and drew three of their last 21 matches, took the honours by seven points and were the ones who indulged in the open-top bus parade.
“That season I thought we could do it,” said Houllier, in good humour and, more importantly, good health having been in Nice last weekend for the Euro 2016 draw.
“Before we played Chelsea at home, I said we were ‘10 games from greatness’. I believed in the players. Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann, Michael Owen and, of course, Carra [Jamie Carragher].
Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have scored 28 goals between them this season [GETTY]
“We took 27 points from our last 10 league games, but I never thought Arsenal would do what they did.
“All credit to them, they were embarking on an incredible run. We finished with 80 points which would have been enough in previous seasons to win the title and I wish we could have done that for the Liverpool supporters. Sometimes you have to accept the other team is good.
“But I don’t want to turn too much to the past. I have no real time for nostalgia. I like the Liverpool team that is playing at the moment.”
And so on to Brendan Rodgers and a run-in that is shaping into Liverpool’s best chance of winning the championship since their last triumph back in 1990.
Tomorrow Liverpool travel to Southampton, the only side to beat them at Anfield this term and a venue where they lost badly last season, just four points from the summit and with the bit between their teeth.
Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson have formed a formidable partnership in the centre midfield [GETTY]
“I sat next to Brendan at a dinner to honour Steven Gerrard last year and I like a lot about him,” said Houllier. “I like his philosophy, the style he has imposed on the team. He doesn’t bottle it. A lot of teams don’t play with two strikers any more. He knows his strikers are good so he plays them.
“If you look at the progress that Liverpool have made in the last couple of years it is impressive. Last season I saw them a lot and you could see what he was trying to achieve.
“They have momentum, they have got the strikers, they have got a good captain in Steven, and Brendan has shown he can improve players. Look at Henderson, Sterling, I like Coutinho. They have a good blend in that midfield.
“People seem to be talking about the reasons why they cannot win, but there are as many, maybe more, as to why they can.”
Houllier anticipates there will be further twists and turns, but remains hopeful of one particular conclusion.
“I would say that Manchester City are the biggest threat,” he added. “They have a game in hand and I think they will be out of the Champions League soon. Arsenal are looking a bit jaded to me.
“But really any of the top four can win, but I have always kept my loyalty to Liverpool and they are scoring so many goals.”
EXCLUSIVE: This can be Reds' year! Gerard Houllier talks up Liverpool title chances
OLD HABITS die hard for Gerard Houllier. He is reeling off Liverpool’s looming fixture list with the same zeal as when he was in the manager’s seat, studying the form and trying to work out the points the Class of 2014 will accrue over the coming weeks.
By: Paul Joyce
Published: Fri, February 28, 2014
Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier believes Liverpool have what it takes to win the title [GETTY]
“This year they can do it,” said Houllier. “If you look at some of the games, they have Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham at home and the way they are playing at Anfield they will be confident. Sunderland and Newcastle too.
“The games away, apart from Manchester United which is always difficult, are all winnable. You can tell I have been checking!
“I’m not putting pressure on them, but they have a good chance. Anyone in the top four can win the title.”
Houllier talks excitedly about Liverpool’s future in between remembering the past; rewinding 12 years to when, newly returned to the dug-out following the heart problem that almost cost him his life, he was immediately embroiled in a title race and looking to end the club’s yearning for championship success.
That the wait goes on reveals they came up short, though sometimes the soul-searching need only focus on the quality of the opposition.
With four games remaining of the 2001-02 campaign, Liverpool beat Derby 2-0 on the day Michael Owen was presented with the Ballon D’or and moved to 74 points. United had 73 and Arsenal 72, although they boasted two games in hand.
When Liverpool lost 1-0 at Tottenham a few weeks later, it sounded the death knell to their hopes. Arsenal, who won their last 13 games and incredibly won 18 and drew three of their last 21 matches, took the honours by seven points and were the ones who indulged in the open-top bus parade.
“That season I thought we could do it,” said Houllier, in good humour and, more importantly, good health having been in Nice last weekend for the Euro 2016 draw.
“Before we played Chelsea at home, I said we were ‘10 games from greatness’. I believed in the players. Steven Gerrard, Didi Hamann, Michael Owen and, of course, Carra [Jamie Carragher].
Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have scored 28 goals between them this season [GETTY]
“We were trying to win the title and the Champions League at the time. We were building on the progress of the previous season when we achieved the treble of UEFA Cup, FA Cup, Carling Cup.“We took 27 points from our last 10 league games, but I never thought Arsenal would do what they did.
“All credit to them, they were embarking on an incredible run. We finished with 80 points which would have been enough in previous seasons to win the title and I wish we could have done that for the Liverpool supporters. Sometimes you have to accept the other team is good.
“But I don’t want to turn too much to the past. I have no real time for nostalgia. I like the Liverpool team that is playing at the moment.”
And so on to Brendan Rodgers and a run-in that is shaping into Liverpool’s best chance of winning the championship since their last triumph back in 1990.
Tomorrow Liverpool travel to Southampton, the only side to beat them at Anfield this term and a venue where they lost badly last season, just four points from the summit and with the bit between their teeth.
Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson have formed a formidable partnership in the centre midfield [GETTY]
“I sat next to Brendan at a dinner to honour Steven Gerrard last year and I like a lot about him,” said Houllier. “I like his philosophy, the style he has imposed on the team. He doesn’t bottle it. A lot of teams don’t play with two strikers any more. He knows his strikers are good so he plays them.
“If you look at the progress that Liverpool have made in the last couple of years it is impressive. Last season I saw them a lot and you could see what he was trying to achieve.
“They have momentum, they have got the strikers, they have got a good captain in Steven, and Brendan has shown he can improve players. Look at Henderson, Sterling, I like Coutinho. They have a good blend in that midfield.
“People seem to be talking about the reasons why they cannot win, but there are as many, maybe more, as to why they can.”
Houllier anticipates there will be further twists and turns, but remains hopeful of one particular conclusion.
“I would say that Manchester City are the biggest threat,” he added. “They have a game in hand and I think they will be out of the Champions League soon. Arsenal are looking a bit jaded to me.
“But really any of the top four can win, but I have always kept my loyalty to Liverpool and they are scoring so many goals.”
