Steven Kelly: Why Gerard Houllier will always hold a special place in Liverpool hearts

In the aftermath of Klopp’s triumph, many spoke of “wilderness years”. That’s a crock. Houllier himself won four of the 10 major trophies in the Anfield trophy cabinet during that ‘wilderness’

ANFIELD ROYALTY: Gerard Houllier, centre, with assistants Phil Thompson and Sammy Lee during a league game in 2004. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The death of Gerard Houllier wasn’t a surprise, he’d been struggling with his health for years.

It’s tempting to guiltily blame it all on his incredible passion for football, and especially his devotion to Liverpool based on a teaching trip to the city in the 1960s and his football baptism on the Kop.