Premiership: If stars want to go we'll get others in - Houllier

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier will not stand in the way of players who want to leave Anfield.

Houllier has dismissed claims of rifts at the club.

He insists the united spirit which helped Liverpool to a trophy treble last season is still intact.

Robbie Fowler, Jari Litmanen and Nick Barmby are said to be unhappy that they have been forced to settle for cameo roles so far this season.

However, Houllier said: "They are part of my plans, but if they want to go we'll get someone else in.

"Some papers, without grounds, are saying something is wrong with Nick or Jari.

"First it was Robbie and we had a laugh between us about those stories. These fall-outs have all been conjured up out of thin air.

"Obviously four or five are not happy at not being involved, but we won things last season by staying united and by having players who were up for the task when they were called upon.

"The best way to be ready is to have the mental strength to be with us. The players who were on the bench were very supportive, which shows we are winning as a squad."

Competition is particularly fierce for the two strikers' berths, with Michael Owen and Emile Heskey keeping out Fowler and fourth-choice Litmanen.

"Jari is definitely an important part of the squad," Houllier added. "I fought hard to get him here. We need four strikers and he is the fourth.

"Bayern Munich have six and Manchester United have five. Jari understands the position.

"He is fit and is fine. At the moment I am sticking to two players because they are doing the job. It doesn't mean the two who are not playing don't deserve to play."