Houllier: I can handle the stick

Gerard Houllier arrived for work to see slogans being scrubbed from the walls of Liverpool’s training ground and remained insistent that he can withstand the waves of abuse and criticism engulfing the club.

The French coach, under pressure following Sunday’s disastrous FA Cup replay defeat at Portsmouth, must now channel the frustrations and anger of his own players into UEFA Cup success this week to give Liverpool’s distraught fans their pride back.