Houllier wants winter break

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has thrown his weight behind the case for a winter break as Premier League chairmen meet to consider the issue.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is trying to persuade the men who run England’s major clubs that such a break would benefit the national side.

Houllier admits he has long advocated such a move, but insists: “The traditions of the Christmas and New Year programmes must be protected.”

Frenchman Houllier also believes such a break will help England’s cause, saying: “I am waiting and hoping for the time that England win the European Championship or the World Cup, and a break would certainly help their cause.

Eriksson wants to see space made for a break achieved by reducing Carling Cup two-legged semi-finals to one match, and the end of the season delayed by a week.

The concept of a winter break in England has always been resisted by Premier League clubs, apart from those competing in the Champions League, and Nationwide League clubs would be reluctant to accept changes in the Carling Cup format.

Eriksson’s cause, already backed by Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson, will no doubt be helped by the current weather that has started to hit fixtures - ironically the Carling Cup semi-final second leg between Middlesbrough and Arsenal has been called off.