Houllier backs Owen and blames linesman

Defiant Gerard Houllier insisted that misfiring striker Michael Owen will not be dropped from the Liverpool team and is likely to take the next penalty even after his second spot-kick miss in a row in the 2-0 defeat at Southampton.

England ace Owen, who missed at least two other glaring chances at St Mary’s, repeated his blunder against Portsmouth in the FA Cup last month when Shaka Hislop saved even with a broken finger.