Hou says Gerrard is going nowhere

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier today defiantly brushed aside reports linking skipper Steven Gerrard with a move to Arsenal and Manchester United by declaring: “You would have to cut off both my arms before I let go of him.”

The Frenchman has laughed off such talk, as well as claims Michael Owen is also wanted by the new champions.

But just to underline how much Gerrard is off limits to any prospective suitors, Houllier said: “You would have to cut off both my arms before I let go of Steven Gerrard because I would have them both wrapped around him.”

Houllier, in a Liverpool Echo interview, described talk of such transfers out of Anfield as “stupid and laughable” but feels the need to calm Kop fears for the future of the club’s most prized assets.

Houllier added: “Steven is irreplaceable. We have big plans for him here to take him up to an even higher level.

“I want him to not only become player of the year in England but he has every chance to be European and world player of the year in the future as well.

“Lothar Matthaus achieved that as a central midfielder and so can Steven. He’s my captain and that tells you everything you need to know about what I think of him. And everyone knows what Steven thinks of the club, too.”

Liverpool have declined officially to issue a ‘hands-off’ warning, and boss Houllier said: “When I saw those things I just laughed, they are just not true, just a laugh really.

"But it is what I expect to see, it is the sort of thing we have to put up with.”

Houllier believes such speculation is typical of what Liverpool see as an orchestrated campaign to undermine the club at a crucial time of the season as they battle for Champions League qualification.

Owen’s agents have opened preliminary talks with Liverpool over his new contract recently, and the player has always insisted that he would not leave for another English club.

Houllier said: “I would be very upset if Michael left, because the best of him is yet to come.”

The Anfield chief added: “On the Owen situation, we have had preliminary talks and they went well.

"My position is the same as it has been all season. I think Michael will stay with us. Whether I am proved to be right or wrong only time will tell.”

But Houllier reiterated that he was “amused” to see Owen and Gerrard both linked with Arsenal on the same day this week.