Moyes backs ‘Pool rival

UNDER-FIRE Gerard Houllier has won the support of David Moyes – his cross-city rival at Everton – as he battles to get the critics off his back.

The Anfield chief has seen the gloom at Liverpool lifted by three wins in a week, even if he is aware that further criticism is only one bad performance away as he looks to clinch fourth spot and Champions League qualification.

But Moyes believes Houllier has been the subject of a witch-hunt. The Everton manager said: “I can only say how I feel. People always seem to be picking on somebody.

“It could be me they are after next. But some of the critics have been intent on chasing Gerard Houllier and questioning him. The end of the season and where they end up will be the time to make a judgement.”

Houllier publicly voiced his support for the Goodison Park chief last month when Everton were in the relegation zone and the Scot was taking flak.

Now Moyes has repaid the compliment, saying: “I am sitting across the road from him, and some of the things said about him recently have been incredible.

“They have lost a few they would rather have won, but he has got them playing well. That is hard for me to say because I am the Everton manager.”

And Moyes also sympathises with Houllier over the long-running saga of Michael Owen’s contract.

Moyes said in a Sky Sports interview: “On Owen, I suppose what you try to do is get him signed up and quickly. But it is difficult for us all.

“He is a top player and we have top players at our club and we will make offers and get them signed up for the future. But these things get leaked for different reasons. Sometimes to make stories, sometimes from the agent and the players themselves.

“It is a merry-go-round but I am sure Liverpool will do everything they can to sign him. Just like we will try to sign our best players.”

Liverpool, who expect long-term injury victims Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan to make their comebacks in the reserves against Everton at Southport tomorrow, have dragged themselves out of trouble and are two points behind fourth-placed Charlton with a game in hand. A month ago they were ninth.

Norwegian defender John Arne Riise believes the weight should now be off Houllier’s shoulders.

In a Liverpoolfc.tv interview, Riise said: “After beating Chelsea there was always the danger we could slip up at home. We were determined not to let that happen against Aston Villa. It did not matter how we won the game so long as we got the three points.

“The manager is doing the best job possible and some of the criticism he gets is way over the top. Hopefully these last results will get some of the critics off all our backs.”

He added: “Now we have to keep it going.”