To be honest that fortnight ‘off’ (originally one of modern football’s most irritating foibles) is now welcomed more and more depending on who you support.

Ronnie Whelan has heard it many times before, since he sat on the famous perch with the rest of Liverpool’s last great team: That first rumble of doubt about a manager in which so much hope has been invested.

The tweet from a reporter read “Klopp angry with crowd impatience”. Here we go, I thought.

They could make a film about Liverpool optimism; Gone In 60 Days.

Spend weeks denying fourth is some sort of achievement, spend half a day biting your nails to the knuckle because you want it so much. Welcome to Liverworld; keep your nerves jangling at all times.

So one week everything goes your way, the next week nothing does. C’est la vie, say the old folks.

We’re guinea pigs, aren’t we?

I was initially tempted to make last week’s disconsolate column feel like the Dalai Lama’s positive thinking app in comparison with this one.

That was old school.

Sad thing about Bournemouth is; after you’ve seen one of the greatest games of your life a few days beforehand, it’s impossible to get excited about them.

One of the many charms of Jurgen Klopp is that unlike the person he could be succeeding at Anfield, he has the capacity to prompt people to chuckle with him rather than at him.

Marquis De Sade wrote all his best work from his asylum cell. I really must try it sometime, especially since I might not have any choice with this team.

If Koeman wants to blame anyone, why not Balotelli? Everybody else does, writes Steven Kelly.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will leave his boyhood club this summer with a heavy heart but he plans to return in a different role in the future.

Liverpool: Losing on goal difference having scored 101 goals would have been too cruel

Payback: It can’t get any better … can it?

Absolutely pitiful.

Aston Villa have today confirmed that former Norwich boss Paul Lambert is their new manager.

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish will hold talks with club owner Randy Lerner in the next 24 hours which will decide whether he will pay the price for a season of underachievement, Press Association Sport understands.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has branded Luis Suarez’s conduct at Old Trafford yesterday as “disrespectful, inappropriate and embarrassing”.

FORMER Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder David Ginola is suing his one-time France coach Gerard Houllier.

“IT’S not milk they want here, it’s blood”; one of Paisley’s rare cantankerous moments in the Eighties.

Defender Richard Dunne has revealed he would probably have quit Aston Villa had Gerard Houllier remained as manager.

Alex McLeish has challenged Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland to recapture his “world-class form” of two years ago.

HAVE you noticed it’s always those who tell you to “chill out” who snap first? During the pre-match tipple we speculated on the forthcoming fare, and few saw anything other than a comfortable victory.

Former Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier admits to feeling a sense of “unfinished business” after his departure from the club but admits his health issues might prevent him returning to management.

AFTER a nightmare first season, Stephen Ireland says he only wants a “fair crack” at proving himself with Aston Villa.

New Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish will “lay down some ground rules” on how he expects his squad to behave when they report back on July 7 for pre-season training.

Aston Villa will today step up their bid to secure Alex McLeish as their new manager.

Aston Villa were meeting managerial target Alex McLeish at a secret location in London today, as their bitter battle with the Scot’s former club Birmingham continued.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has been given permission to speak to managerless Aston Villa, Latics chairman Dave Whelan has told the Daily Telegraph.

Steve McClaren’s hopes of becoming Aston Villa manager appear to have been dashed – with Rafael Benitez now the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Gerard Houllier.

Mark Hughes’ departure from Fulham has “no connection” with the vacant Aston Villa hot-seat following manager Gerard Houllier’s departure, it is understood.

MARK HUGHES resigned as Fulham manager last night despite having agreed terms on a new contract with the club.

Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be high on Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner’s list of preferred options to replace Gerard Houllier as manager, Press Association Sport understands.

ASTON VILLA last night confirmed the departure of Gerard Houllier as manager after nine months in charge of the midlands club.

Aston Villa have confirmed the departure of Gerard Houllier as manager after nine months in charge of the midlands club.

Stewart Downing insists his decision whether to remain at Aston Villa this summer will not be influenced by manager Gerard Houllier’s future.

STEWART DOWNING has praised the contribution of Gerard Houllier but insists Aston Villa will not influence decisions regarding his own future.

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier’s future will be decided in the next 24 hours, it is understood.