Likely lads steady Reds

GERARD HOULLIER demanded answers when he doubted his Liverpool players’ nerve for the battle and he got them against Newcastle.

They came from the local Scouse lads Jamie Carragher and captain Steven Gerrard, who may have just helped turn the corner for beleaguered manager Gerard Houllier.

Although Bruno Cheyrou stepped from the shadows to grab the goals which accounted for Newcastle, it was Carragher and Gerrard who epitomised everything Houllier expects from his team.

Skipper Gerrard blitzed through midfield, stamping his class and sheer endeavour on Newcastle, who started so well but were slowly overpowered.

However, full-back Carragher, out since September, underlined the spirit Houllier craves. Carragher, playing at left-back, is never going to be Roberto Carlos but he has character and willpower to spare.

Houllier said: “Our performance really needs to be highlighted because we have beaten a quality side. We took the game to them, and I was particularly pleased with Jamie Carragher.

“He is a special person, a special character at this club. He has so much energy. Carragher epitomises the spirit of this club, teams need players like that. I recall when he was injured, along with Milan Baros at Blackburn. I said at the time that I would rather have lost that game and kept my two players, and now people understand why.”

Gerrard was quick to underline the desire which flowed through the players after their stomach for a fight had previously been questioned.

“Nobody should have any doubt that we are all up for this, and for going back to Cardiff for the final. We needed that after the defeat at Spurs and the draw at Wolves,” he said. “We needed to give the fans something to think about. Everyone knows we are a good side and we showed it.”

Cheyrou, though, was a more unlikely hero. Having taken so much stick in his 19 months at Liverpool, it is hard to believe he has scored four goals in five matches.

Houllier has defiantly stood by the £3.7 million signing from Lille and said: “Bruno scores goals, makes goals, and is a tremendous asset. I have always known his worth. “Everybody seems to criticise Bruno, but while he has not been playing he has been injured. He was out for a long time. When he came back he was struggling for match fitness. Now he has started showing what he can do.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Bobby Robson last night held clear-the-air talks with chairman Freddy Shepherd amid claims that he was about to quit Tyneside. The furious 70-year-old hit back at newspaper criticism of departing striker Carl Cort after being incensed by quotes attributed to a club insider which suggested his £7 million signing had been a waste of money.

Reports yesterday claimed Robson threatened to resign if the mole was not found and sacked, but the club moved to diffuse the situation.