The time has come for us to repay the boss, says Diao

AS troubled Liverpool inch ever-closer to their worst record in history, under-fire midfielder Salif Diao has thanked boss Gerard Houllier for sticking by him.

And the Senegal international claimed other clubs would have collapsed under the pressure of having to contend with Liverpool’s current run of 11 league matches without a victory.

Diao has been one of the new signings singled out by critics as not up to the task, as Liverpool’s seven-point lead at the top of the Premiership has disappeared. They have slumped to seventh in the table and four points adrift of a Champions League place.