Houllier expects Owen talks soon

Gerard Houllier is confident Liverpool are close to opening contract talks with Michael Owen.

The Reds boss dismissed suggestions that the uncertainty over Owen’s future might have been a factor in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham – their first dropped points of 2004 and first goals conceded.

“Not at all,” said Houllier. “We know the situation. We have been in contact with the agent and as soon as the agent comes back we will start talks.”

Spurs finished the game with five players on the pitch who were signed from Nationwide League clubs – Simon Davies, Gary Doherty, Anthony Gardner, Michael Brown and Bobby Zamora – and acting manager David Pleat believes that recruiting players from the lower divisions is a policy more top flight teams should adopt.

“I just think that Premiership teams are sometimes reluctant to take a chance on Nationwide League teams,” said Pleat.

“I think there are players in the lower leagues – and the point is that they are British players – who, given a bigger stage could make it.”

Alan Curbishley will hold talks with Scott Parker this week in a bid to resolve the Charlton midfielder’s future.

Parker was omitted from the squad which won 1-0 at Everton after being unsettled by a transfer offer from Chelsea, and Curbishley does not yet know what the outcome will be.

“Scott has been unsettled, it was all public and I suppose he could see a Champions League club wanting him,” said The Addicks boss. “Offers from such clubs do not come along too often.

“I cannot stop clubs bidding for our players but we are not in the position we have been in the past when we have had to sell.

“It was unwelcome, but we made a decision to leave Scott out. We will have to see what happens now over the next few days. Obviously we have got to talk to him but I have a great relationship with Scott, so let’s see how we get on from here.”

Everton boss David Moyes saw 18 shots saved or go wide and said: “It is something that must be addressed.”

Jay-Jay Okocha has told Nigeria he expects them to accept and understand that he will be playing for Bolton in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa on Wednesday before joining his country for the African Nations Cup, which starts in Tunisia on Saturday.

“There is a possibility I will play against Villa because I have been fighting with the Nigerian football association,” Okocha told Bolton’s in-house TV station. “I have stayed up until this time and I don’t see what will change in the next few days.

“I have been in the national team almost 11 years and I expect them to give me something in return. It is better for them to reason with me. We don’t have a big squad at Bolton, so it is very important I stay as long as I can.

“I don’t see what effect I will have not being involved in Nigeria’s preparation period. I expect them them to understand I have a role to play here. I think they are beginning to realise that.”

Okocha looked a little out of sorts as Kevin Davies struck in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth, whose manager Harry Redknapp threatened to withhold the wages of Dejan Stefanovic after he was sent off for swearing at referee Phil Dowd.

“To get a player sent off in the last minute of the game for swearing at the referee is absolute nonsense,” said Redknapp.

“People should not get paid if they are not playing. I judge every red card on their merits and I certainly won’t stand for someone swearing at the referee.”

Graeme Souness summed up Manchester City and his own Blackburn team after the 1-1 draw as: “Two nervous teams fighting for their lives.”

Both teams are in the wrong half of the table and Souness added: “Who handles those nerves best will be one of the determining factors in how our seasons will finish. It’s time for the big players to stand up and be counted.”

City counterpart Kevin Keegan, whose side have now gone 11 games and 11 weeks since their last league win, is someone who is prepared to stand up and be counted.

He said: “I am the manager and I pick the team, so there is pressure on me. We are in a relegation fight now and that’s disappointing but I shall just keep soldiering on.”

Steve Guppy must be wondering what he has let himself in for after rejoining Leicester and seeing them concede two last-minute goals to draw 3-3 at Middlesbrough.

“The manager said when I came back that I must be mad – well he was right, wasn’t he?” said a shellshocked Guppy. “It was fantastic to be back, but to fall apart like that and be punished in the last few minutes is hard to take.

“The work rate is so high, so maybe the legs go in the last five minutes. We have to learn to kill games like this, or else. The warning signs are there. It has happened a few times now, but you get no luck when you are at the bottom.”

Boro have injury problems as they prepare for three cup games against Arsenal and manager Steve McClaren revealed: “Colin Cooper has a hamstring injury and is very doubtful; Ugo Ehiogu (groin) may have a chance, while Gareth Southgate (hamstring) I don’t think will make it.”

Kenny Miller left Molineux on Saturday night with the match video tucked under his arm after his 67th-minute winner for Wolves against Manchester United ensured one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history.

The 24-year-old Scot said after scoring his first ever Premiership goal: “I have got a copy of the video and it will be going straight on when I get home.

“I will treasure the moment because it was my first Premiership goal and to score it against Manchester United is a dream come true.”

Sir Alex Ferguson felt his United team controlled the game but told MUTV: “Don’t forget this is a team that is fighting for its life. They want to stay in the Premier League because their whole history is Premier League football. They showed they had the appetite to try and stay there.”

Kevin Phillips, Southampton’s rejuvenated striker, has told crisis-hit Leeds players to blinker themselves to the financial worries dogging Elland Road.

Phillips, who notched the winner in Saints’ 2-1 triumph over their Yorkshire visitors, was in a similar position at Sunderland 12 months ago.

He said: “Hopefully it is not too late for the Leeds players but whatever happens they must try not to worry about what happens off the park. Those things will take care of themselves. They can’t do much about it except keep giving their best.

“They are a great club and people would hate to see them go out of the league but from what I have seen it is clear they are scrapping for their lives.

“They have quality players and they keep going. Alan Smith typifies what you would want to see from a Leeds player in this position. He battled right to the end even when it seemed hopeless.”