Diouf dropped for Celtic second leg as Houllier seeks ‘sense of serenity’
The Senegal striker has been fined two weeks’ wages by the club after appearing to spit at supporters in the first leg at Parkhead, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
UEFA are looking into the incident and expected to reach a decision either tomorrow or Wednesday.
Houllier said: “I don’t think it will be right to play Diouf against Celtic.
“We need a sense of serenity around this game. I have told the player and he understands the situation. It will be better for him not to play.
“I think there would be too much pressure put on him if he played in this match, and we need to remember he is still a young boy.
“He can cope with it, but it would take too much attention away from the game to play him.”
Houllier is outraged at suggestions Diouf should be kicked out of Anfield.
“There are those who should know this club better who are saying he should never play for Liverpool again. I have to say I’m gutted by these comments,” he told the club’s official website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.
“We are talking about a player of just 22. He has done wrong, we acknowledge that and he’s been punished, but is there no such thing as forgiveness?
“When a member of your family does wrong, do you throw him out of your house? Of course you don’t. You talk to him, make him understand his mistake and ensure it never happens again. Some of the treatment he’s getting is out of order.
“At Liverpool, we are a club where everyone is part of a family. We care about the people who work here and we are ready to forgive them.
“There is a sense of honour and respect here and we want to help him. I was delighted with the reaction of our supporters who stood by the player.”
Meanwhile, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill finally received some encouraging news on the injury front after a weekend to forget.
Chris Sutton had an operation on a broken wrist just hours after his side’s narrow CIS Insurance Cup final defeat by Rangers.
The former Blackburn and Chelsea striker was initially ruled out for at least six weeks, but it emerged yesterday that in just a month he can transfer to a lightweight cast which would allow him to play.
That would mean there is even a chance Sutton could return for a possible UEFA Cup semi-final on April 10, should they beat Liverpool.
O’Neill was further boosted for Thursday’s trip to Anfield after Henrik Larsson and Alan Thompson declared themselves fit to play.
The Swede, who has only just returned from a double fracture of the jaw, is ready to go after taking a heavy blow to the face on Sunday, while Thompson showed no signs of a groin injury suffered last week.
Celtic are still without Sutton and Didier Agathe for the trip south, though, knowing they have to score to have any chance of progressing.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
