Phil launches Anfield Tommo-hawk in defence of Houllier

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

And he could not have asked for more from his number two as Thompson manned the barricades in defence of his boss.

Thompson handled the pre-Southampton media conference, and went for the throat after a week in which chairman David Moores’ shareholders’ report has been used to attack Houllier.