Champions League: Houllier confident Reds can bounce back

Gerard Houllier believes his Champions League new boys will have learned a crucial lesson in their disappointing 1-1 home draw with an impressive Boavista last night.

Liverpool had high hopes of a winning start to Group B, but they constantly found themselves exposed by a quick, intelligent Portuguese side who looked far better than their fourth seeding in the group suggested.

Anfield boss Houllier said: ‘‘That was the beginning of our learning curve. We have discovered that all Champions League games are faster and with a higher level of skill.

‘‘I told the lads at half-time that what they were experiencing was exactly the type of game they will face in all six of the group matches.

‘‘We were surprised by their pace and commitment. We started badly by conceding that early goal, which could have been avoided.

‘‘Our defenders need more games to get back to the level of last season, but I do trust them to do it.

‘‘In the end it was a frustrating night, and it can be said that we have dropped two points. But in two months’ time we will look back on this and be happy with it.’’

Houllier praised goal hero Michael Owen, who has now scored on every club debut in the League Cup, FA Cup, Premiership, UEFA Cup and Champions League.

Said Houllier: ‘‘He will always score goals, and in his current form he is even more dangerous. It was a very well taken goal.’’

Boavista coach Jaime Pacheco accused Liverpool of ‘‘savaging’’ his players in a game that saw eight players booked seven from the Portuguese title holders.

The visitors constantly angered the 30,000-plus crowd with their antics, rolling around at the slightest touch.

Houllier said: ‘‘What surprised me was the number of times they went to the floor!’’

Pacheco’s response was to accuse the Liverpool players of being over-physical.

He said: ‘‘I came to Liverpool to play football, and not rugby. Our players are less physical, less endowed and they were savaged.

‘‘And the referee seemed to be on the side of Liverpool. We even felt that one of their players should have been sent off Henchoz at the end, when he pulled our player down.’’

When questioned about his side’s remarkable speed of recovery after their antics, Pacheco replied: ‘‘How can you accuse my team of diving? We Portuguese are descended from great warriors, we may be little but we are firm and can withstand physical attack.’’

Houllier responded by saying: ‘‘When we played in Rome and Barcelona last season we were never accused of being over physical, the demands of this competition are that you are strong and physical, that’s what we were.’’