 GERARD HOULLIER'S Liverpool career has ended where it began. Sitting uncomfortably alongside Roy Evans. History will acknowledge him as a decent man who took the club so far, but ultimately failed to overcome the final hurdle of Premiership glory. You can narrow down when it all started to go wrong. Around 9.20pm on April 9, 2002. The venue was Germany. Dietmar Hamann was subbed against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions' League quarter-final. The dip began. It became a blip, turned into a plateau and eventually led the club into a black hole. Liverpool would return to the land of mediocrity. They led 2-1 on aggregate during the second half on that promising spring night. They lost 4-3. The removal of Hamann was an indisputable turning point. Previously unquestioning elements of Liverpool's support started to fear Houllier's judgement was flawed and from this moment evidence started to pile up. Prior to then, the major decisions had paid off, taking the club into a position where they were genuine challenges at home and in Europe. Getting shut of Paul Ince, selling Kop idol Robbie Fowler, dumping Sander Westerveld, nicking Barmby from Everton, and signing 'problem child' Nicolas Anelka were tough and brave decisions by the Liverpool manager. They were controversial and divisive, but they came off. There was dis-sent, but it was quickly discredited. Die-hard fans loved Houllier and ferociously attacked his critics. Former Anfield Gods like Ian St John, widely respected before his anti-Houllier campaign, lost credibility. Who could doubt the genius of the French coach with a scouse heart? He bravely overcame life -threatening surgery to make a triumphant comeback against Roma when his side gave the most accomplished performances of his reign. Having taken sole control after the ill-fated partnership with Evans in November 1998, he successfully reconstructed the club. | 
HAVE your say on our Reds Messageboard - click 
RSS News Feed