Under-fire Houllier dwells on Liverpool positives

GERARD HOULLIER has emerged defiant from savage attacks on himself and his Liverpool stars, stating: “You have to take the positive side of everything, otherwise you commit suicide.”

Houllier and Liverpool have been reeling under the weight of criticism following the shattering FA Cup

replay defeat at the hands of 10-man Crystal Palace in midweek, where Michael Owen and Emile Heskey were pilloried for missing a string of chances.

That defeat has again called Houllier's position into question, but the Frenchman hit back after chief executive Rick Parry rubbished claims the Liverpool chief was under threat.

On the eve of the visit of Middlesbrough to Anfield, Houllier said: "Rick Parry has made a declaration, I feel strong and firm in my position, and there's support not only from my backroom staff but also the board. We will just keep doing our work.

"What Rick has said sums up the confidence of the board when we are going through a difficult period. I must praise the directors and the chairman for the support they have given me and the faith they have shown in me and the squad.

"That's what I told the players, avoid reading a lot of what is going to be written about you and me, we have to keep working on our game. They must know I was pleased with the first half performance (against Crystal Palace), despite the chances we missed. Had we scored a couple the whole world would be different."

Houllier will have Vladimir Smicer back for suspension for today's Barclaycard Premiership clash but is still without banned Steven Gerrard.

The Frenchman is mindful that it was at Middlesbrough where the Merseysiders' current rot set in. Back in November Liverpool were top of the table and one game away from an unbeaten club record from the beginning of a season.

Houllier explained: "That Middlesbrough defeat started the indifferent run afterwards.

"If we had been unbeaten that day we would have set a new club record for being unbeaten at the start of a season." But we are not

obsessed with by record, only by our own performance and how we can improve and do well, that's what we are doing."

Since then Houllier's men have won just seven of 24 games and are now three points off a Champions League qualification spot.

But the defeat by Palace ended their FA Cup hopes. Houllier said: "I know people say it was a setback. I accept that it was a poor result and not an acceptable defeat by our own standards.

"But on the back of that it is an ideal opportunity to show your strength and your courage..." I told the players to put things into perspective, keep working hard and do what they are good at, playing football."