MICHAEL OWEN is being lined up to ride to Gerard Houllier’s rescue and kill off yet another barrage of speculation about the Frenchman’s future.

GERARD HOULLIER, stricken by flu after a week of high pressure, turned his assistant Phil Thompson on Liverpool’s detractors last night.

GERARD HOULLIER has laughed off claims that his job could be on the line if Liverpool do not return to Europe’s elite by insisting he has a squad good enough to get the club back into the Champions League.

Gerard Houllier has laughed off claims that his job could be on the line if Liverpool do not return to Europe’s elite by insisting he has a squad good enough to get the club back into the Champions League.