Sport 16-12-2002 Houllier: My Worst Month who: Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier what: Frustrated as Reds are beaten 2-1 by struggling Sunderland where: Stadium Of Light, SUNDERLAND when: Yesterday snippet: Liverpool are doing a pretty good impression of a club in crisis, reckons The Guardian this morning after their run of Premiership defeats increased yesterday to four, the latest courtesy of an 86th-minute winner for Michael Proctor "that left Sunderland convinced, perhaps for the first time during Howard Wilkinson`s reign, that they have it in them to escape relegation." It was, said Gérard Houllier, surveying the wreckage of Liverpool`s championship challenge, "the worst run of my managerial career". They have now lost at Fulham, Charlton and now Sunderland, a team which, notes The Independent, "had not scored in more than eight and a half hours` football" and last beat Liverpool at home when Elvis joined the army. The Times believes it significant that Houllier dropped Sami Hyypia, his captain, from the Liverpool squad because the centre half apparently needed a break, and introduced Igor Biscan into his defence. Milan Baros played alongside Michael Owen and, "although both men prompted a series of fine saves from Jürgen Macho, the overall impression was one of disharmony and confusion." Sunderland won despite missing a penalty after Jamie Carragher was harshy judged to have handled the ball in the area; Chris Kirkland saved goalscorer Gavin McCann`s weak shot. Manager Howard Wilkinson didn`t mind: "Our win was better for us missing that penalty, daft as it may seem," he remarked. "Getting pegged back to 1-1 meant it was a test of our character and leadership qualities. We are out of the relegation zone but we have been out of it before and slipped back in. The problem we have is a lack of consistency." Houllier`s analysis was similar: "We have to look for solutions and we`ll find them," he insisted. "I can`t believe we`re leaving this stadium with nothing." [... more]

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