Players answer Houllier's questions

Gerard Houllier demanded answers when he doubted his Liverpool players’ nerve for the battle – and he got them against Newcastle.

They came from the local Scouse lads Jamie Carragher and captain Steven Gerrard, who may have just helped turn the corner for beleaguered manager Gerard Houllier.

The Frenchman was bitterly disappointed with a fearful performance at Wolves where the character and desire of his side came under scrutiny following the 1-1 draw.

He openly questioned whether his squad had the bottle to cope with the mounting pressures and demands that accompany wearing the red shirt of Liverpool.

And although Bruno Cheyrou stepped from the shadows to grab the goals which accounted for Newcastle, it was Carragher and Gerrard who epitomised everything Houllier expects from his team.

Skipper Gerrard blitzed through midfield, stamping his class and sheer endeavour on Newcastle, who started so well but were slowly overpowered.

But it was full-back Carragher, out since September, who underlined the spirit Houllier craves.

Carragher, playing at left-back, is never going to be Roberto Carlos but he has character and willpower to spare.

Houllier witnessed a pulsating fourth round tie, saw Cheyrou score in 71 seconds and then head a second-half winner after Newcastle had grabbed a classic of their own from Laurent Robert’s free-kick. The visitors at times had threatened to unhinge Liverpool with their pace and guile.

But sweat, pride and defiance oozed from Carragher and Gerrard and that undoubtedly helped Liverpool into the last 16 with their confidence beginning to grow again.

Houllier said: “Our performance really needs to be highlighted because we have beaten a quality side. We took the game to them, and I was particularly pleased with Jamie Carragher.

“He is a special person, a special character at this club. He has so much energy. Carragher epitomises the spirit of this club, teams need players like that.

“I recall when he was injured, along with Milan Baros at Blackburn. I said at the time that I would rather have lost that game and kept my two players, and now people understand why.

“They have been out for such a long time and it has cost us a lot over the months.” Baros, the Czech Republic striker, will be back soon as he continues his comeback with a reserve game at Bolton tomorrow.

Houllier at least saw his team overcome their nerves and find their character.

“We wanted to compete, attack them, and show our worth and Carragher played a part, he is so important to the morale of the team,” he added.

“For me Jamie was man of the match despite Bruno scoring the goals. Our defence now looks much more solid, Jamie is back, so is Stephane Henchoz.”

Gerrard was quick to underline the desire which flowed through the players after their stomach for a fight had previously been questioned.

“Nobody should have any doubt that we are all up for this, and for going back to Cardiff for the final.

We needed that after the defeat at Spurs and the draw at Wolves,” he said.

“We needed to give the fans something to think about. Everyone knows we are good side and we showed it.”

Cheyrou, though, was a more unlikely hero. Having taken so much stick in his 19 months at Liverpool, it is hard to believe he has scored four goals in five matches.

His first season saw him unable to handle the pace and strength of the Premiership, and this campaign he has been injured from the first day.

Houllier has defiantly stood by the £3.7m (€5.4m) signing from Lille and said: “Bruno scores goals, makes goals, and is a tremendous asset. I have always known his worth.

“Everybody seems to criticise Bruno, but while he has not been playing he has been injured. He was out for a long time. When he came back he was struggling for match fitness. Now he has started showing what he can do.”

For Bobby Robson there was a sad resignation that another chance for him to win a trophy for Newcastle had gone. With the manager approaching 71 he must now wonder whether he will ever achieve that goal now.

And he did not spare his side, who in Kieron Dyer and Jermaine Jenas had two young men who were outstanding in the first half but disappeared from sight when Liverpool mounted their revival after the interval.

Robson said: “We did not seem to be ready for them in the second half, we seemed to be under pressure all the time.

“Our forward play was poor and our penetration was poor. It was not good enough to win a match because we did not look like we were going to score again.

“Gerard Houllier was able to call on a lot of his better players, more so than he has been able to do for weeks, and it showed.

“Henchoz was obviously more comfortable at centre-half than he has been at right-back and Steve Finnan is improving, he is back in the side and getting better.

“Carragher, too, is back so Gerard has his strong back four back and it showed. They blunted us.”