Press conference on Houllier called

Liverpool have called a press conference for midday where they are expected to announce the departure of Gerard Houllier as manager.

Chairman David Moores and his board did not give public backing to the manager after he achieved the “minimum requirement” of Champions League qualification by finishing fourth.

The Frenchman may yet remain at Anfield in another role, but the club are expected to look for a new manager to take the club forward.

The Reds trailed Premiership champions Arsenal by 30 points and were 15 points behind third-placed Manchester United.

Houllier won five trophies in 2001 and won the League Cup for a second time in 2003, but has failed to return the club to the past glories of the 1970s and 1980s.

The Frenchman insisted at the weekend that he was “100% certain” to remain in charge at Anfield, even though fourth place was deemed to be the minimum acceptable target by chairman David Moores.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, Charlton’s highly-rated Alan Curbishley and Valencia coach Rafael Benitez have all been reported as contenders to succeed Houllier.